FORT PIERCE, Fla. — On Wednesday, attorneys representing a man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump sought a federal judge’s permission to postpone his trial until next December. They argue that additional time is necessary to review the extensive evidence collected against him and to consider whether an insanity defense might be appropriate.
Ryan Wesley Routh’s public defenders presented their concerns to District Judge Aileen Cannon, stating that the current schedule, set for February, does not allow adequate time for them to thoroughly evaluate the substantial volume of data, including 17 cell phones and other electronic devices, as well as hundreds of hours of police body camera and surveillance footage obtained by the FBI.
Assistant federal public defender Kristy Militello highlighted that she had only dealt with a few clients who faced similarly large quantities of evidence, primarily in complex fraud cases and two individuals implicated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. With limited help from another attorney and an investigator, Militello emphasized her challenges in balancing this case alongside her other responsibilities. She noted, “Unlike prosecutors, I don’t have the resources of the FBI” to sift through the materials efficiently.
During the hearing, Routh, 58, remained silent and was shackled in the same location where Trump had previously attended pretrial hearings. Residing in Hawaii, Routh has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Prosecutor John Shipley Jr. acknowledged that the trial’s current timeline is impractical, but he opposed a one-year delay, arguing that it would infringe on the rights to a speedy trial for both Trump and a Secret Service agent who Routh is accused of targeting with his rifle. While he refrained from proposing a specific date, Shipley cautioned against scheduling the trial during summer months when potential jurors may have prior vacation plans.
Shipley also contended that although the digital evidence is extensive, much of it relates to Routh himself, implying he would be able to aid his defense team in organizing it. He argued that the nature of the accusations against Routh is relatively straightforward compared to more intricate fraud cases.
Prosecutors allege that Routh meticulously planned to kill Trump for several weeks before the incident on September 15, during which he aimed a rifle at Trump while the president was golfing at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view, and upon being aimed at, the agent shot at Routh, who dropped his weapon and fled the scene without firing back. Routh allegedly left behind a note detailing his intentions and was apprehended shortly after while driving on a nearby highway.
During the hearing, the potential for an insanity defense was briefly discussed. Militello mentioned that a witness who had communicated with Routh prior to the incident described him as seemingly hallucinating. Further, other individuals had informed the FBI that Routh displayed signs of delusional behavior.
In response, Shipley stressed the difficulty of establishing an insanity defense, stating that Routh would need to demonstrate a mental disorder rendering him incapable of understanding the nature or wrongfulness of his actions. He maintained that the evidence suggests Routh was aware of his behavior, citing searches conducted by Routh regarding flights to Mexico from the nearby Palm Beach International Airport.
If convicted of the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, Routh could face a life sentence. He is also charged with assault on a federal officer and three counts related to firearms. Currently, he is held without bail at a federal facility in Miami.
Only two months prior to Routh’s arrest, Trump had survived a shooting incident during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. While the Secret Service acknowledged previous shortcomings in security that preceded that attack, they affirmed that their measures effectively thwarted Routh’s alleged attempt in Florida.
