Jury Selection Underway in Trump Assassination Attempt Trial as Defendant Ryan Routh Represents Himself
Jury Selection Underway in Trump Assassination Attempt Trial as Defendant Ryan Routh Represents Himself
Jury selection commenced Monday in the federal trial of Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course last year. The proceedings, which saw Routh representing himself, are expected to continue through Tuesday, with opening statements potentially as early as Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.
Routh, 59, who has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges including attempting to kill a presidential candidate, introduced himself to prospective jurors with an apology—not for his alleged actions, but for the inconvenience of their court attendance. Despite his limited legal experience, Routh is personally navigating the complex legal process, often yielding to prosecutors during juror challenges, though notably objecting to the removal of a young woman who supported restoring felon voting rights.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, is presiding over the trial and has imposed strict rules to prevent “calculated chaos” from Routh’s self-representation. Judge Cannon denied Routh’s previous request for her recusal due to her past association with the former president. She has also curtailed some of Routh’s more unconventional requests, such as a “beatdown session” with Trump or a golf match for his life.
The court spent Monday whittling down a pool of 60 potential jurors, with another 120 expected Tuesday morning. Prosecutors allege Routh meticulously planned the attack for months, hiding with a rifle on Trump’s Palm Beach golf course on September 15, 2024, before being spotted by a Secret Service agent and subsequently arrested. Evidence is expected to include a handwritten letter from Routh detailing his alleged intentions and a self-published book encouraging Trump’s assassination.
Routh’s defense is anticipated to center on his character to argue a lack of intent. The trial is scheduled to last 2-4 weeks, with an anonymous, partially sequestered jury.
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