Judge Allows Rifle Operability Test in Alleged Trump Assassination Plot Case

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, can have an expert examine the rifle under strict conditions as legal disputes over evidence continue.

• Ryan Routh, facing federal and state charges for an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump in September 2024, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• A federal judge ruled that Routh's defense team may conduct an independent operability test on the recovered AK-47, with a deadline set for May 15, 2025.
• The defense argues the rifle's operability and range are critical to disproving intent, while prosecutors maintain the weapon successfully fired during prior tests.
• Prosecutors allege that Routh had also sought military-grade weapons, including a rocket launcher, to prevent Trump's election, citing communications with an associate.
• The trial is scheduled for September 2025, with the defense set to review evidence at an FBI field office next week as legal and evidentiary disputes unfold.

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