Ryan Routh Begins Contentious Self-Defense in Attempted Trump Assassination Trial
Ryan Routh Begins Contentious Self-Defense in Attempted Trump Assassination Trial
The high-profile trial of Ryan W. Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has commenced with Routh presenting his own defense, leading to immediate interventions from the presiding judge.
On Thursday, minutes into his opening remarks to the jury, Routh was cut off by Judge Aileen Cannon. Routh, who is representing himself, began by offering a “history” of human existence, prompting Judge Cannon to excuse the jury and instruct him to confine his comments to the specifics of the case. Routh apologized and agreed, but was again interrupted by the judge when he resumed, with Judge Cannon declaring his opening remarks concluded.
Prosecutor John Shipley Jr. argued in his opening statement that Routh’s alleged attempt to assassinate Trump during the 2024 election campaign was an effort to “take the choice away from the American people.” Shipley stated that a compelling body of evidence, including cellphone data, security footage, a handwritten note from Routh expressing an intent to kill Trump, and eyewitness testimony, would prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The first government witness to testify was a US Secret Service agent, Robert Fercano, who recounted discovering a man hiding along the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course last year. Fercano identified Routh in court as the individual he found through a shrub-covered fence. He testified that while patrolling near the sixth hole, he observed a face, armored plates, and what appeared to be the muzzle of an AK-style weapon. After calling out, Fercano realized a weapon was aimed at him, prompting him to call for backup and discharge his own weapon in Routh’s direction. Jurors were played audio of Fercano radioing colleagues, exclaiming, “Shots fired! Shots fired! Shots fired!” The agent also stood before the jury, at the prosecution’s request, holding the SKS semiautomatic rifle allegedly obtained illegally by Routh and used in the attempted assassination.
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