At least four concerns were raised to U.S. government agencies, such as the FBI and State Department, regarding a man now accused in an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The responses to these reports that could have prevented the actions of Ryan Routh remain unclear, prompting questions about the adequacy of the actions taken. Nurse Chelsea Walsh reported Routh’s violent behavior in 2022 while he was recruiting foreign soldiers for the war in Ukraine, however, she never received any follow-up after notifying the authorities.
Walsh met Ryan Routh in Kyiv in 2022, where she noticed his escalating anger and erratic behavior, including violence towards a panhandler and threats of arson. She also observed Routh’s detailed plans to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin using various methods. Despite Walsh’s warnings to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, the FBI, and Interpol, she did not receive any feedback. It was not until seeing Routh in the news accused of stalking Trump in an apparent assassination attempt that she realized the severity of the situation.
Besides Walsh’s report, there were at least three other alerts to the U.S. government about Routh. These included a 2019 FBI tip about Routh having a firearm after a felony conviction, an aid worker’s online report to the State Department questioning Routh’s military recruitment tactics, and Routh’s interview with Customs and Border Protection that led to a potential inquiry by Homeland Security Investigations.
Concerns have been raised about the responsiveness and capability of federal agencies in handling potential threats effectively. Some individuals, like ex-CIA officer Sarah Adams, took proactive steps to alert authorities about Routh’s activities, urging caution and investigation. Despite these efforts, uncertainties remain about the thoroughness of the investigations conducted by the agencies involved.
Additionally, in June 2023, Routh was questioned by Customs and Border Protection agents upon his return from overseas activities where he admitted to recruiting fighters and provided misleading information. Homeland Security Investigations declined to pursue the matter further, citing the volume of similar requests they receive daily. The agency’s executive associate director mentioned that Routh’s statements did not warrant immediate action, raising further questions about the decision-making process in handling potential threats.
The ongoing scrutiny highlights the need for federal agencies to enhance their vigilance and response mechanisms to address an increasing number of potential threats effectively. Public figures like Senator Chuck Grassley emphasized the importance of federal agencies detecting and combating these threats efficiently to ensure public safety and national security.
