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56m ago

Routh Begins Brief Defense in Trump Golf-Course Assassination Trial

Closing arguments are set for Tuesday after the judge rejected his motion for acquittal.

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This courtroom sketch shows lead government prosecutor John Shipley speaking during the opening statements of the during the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano holding up the weapon found in the bushes during opening statements in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano identifying the defendant in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)

Overview

  • Ryan Routh, 59, is representing himself and plans to call three witnesses, including a firearms expert and two character witnesses, and he may testify.
  • Prosecutors rested Friday after seven days and 38 witnesses, introducing extensive phone, location, surveillance, bank, and firearm-purchase records they say show planning and stalking.
  • Jurors were shown a 12-page handwritten letter that prosecutors describe as a confession offering $150,000 to anyone who could complete the assassination if he failed.
  • A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh aiming a rifle from near the sixth green, opened fire, and that Routh fled before being arrested on I-95 about an hour later.
  • Judge Aileen Cannon denied Routh’s bid to toss most charges and scheduled closings for Tuesday; Routh faces five federal counts carrying a potential life sentence and separate state charges.