OAN Staff Abril Elfi
11:09 AM – Monday, September 30, 2024
The 58-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump after camping out for 12 hours and aiming his firearm in the direction of Trump’s Secret Service agents, waiting for the former president to walk into his line of sight, has pleaded not guilty to all of his charges.
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On Monday, Ryan Wesley Routh pleaded not guilty to five charges, which includes the assassination attempt, federal gun charges, and the assault of an officer.
Routh faces charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
“Yes, your honor,” Routh said, before his lawyer entered the not guilty plea on his behalf.
Initially, Routh had been hit solely with federal weapon possession charges. However, a day after a letter was released, where he openly discussed his plan to kill Trump, Routh was finally handed the assassination attempt charges.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” the eerie letter read.
“I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
His defense attorney tried to argue that he might have penned the letter in order to shine a spotlight on his “advocacy for democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan.”
A judge had ordered Routh to remain behind bars pending trial at his last hearing.
Additionally, Judge Aileen Cannon has been selected at random to oversee the case. She also happens to be the same judge who dismissed the former president’s classified documents case after ruling that the process used to appoint the Special Counsel was unconstitutional.
The 58-year-old failed assassin is set to be arraigned on his charges during a court hearing next week.
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