OAN Staff Abril Elfi
6:02 PM – Monday, September 30, 2024
Nearly two weeks after the U.S. presidential election on November 5th, a South Florida federal judge ordered failed Donald Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh to stand trial on charges of attempting to murder the former president.
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On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set a trial date of November 18th, “or as soon thereafter, as the case may be called.”
Cannon also ordered Routh’s defense team to let her know by November 17th at the latest if their client decides to plead guilty.
On Monday, Routh pleaded not guilty to five charges. In all, he 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.
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 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.”
Soon after, his defense attorney tried to argue that his client could have penned the letter in order to shine a spotlight on his “advocacy for democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan.”
At Routh’s last hearing, the judge ordered him to remain behind bars until his next trial.
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