Jury selection has commenced in Florida for the trial of Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S President Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign.
Routh, a resident of Hawaii, is representing himself in court despite having no formal legal training.
The trial is taking place in Fort Pierce, Florida, and is expected to last between two to four weeks.
He faces multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms violations offenses that could result in a life sentence if he is convicted.
According to court documents, Routh made several unusual and eccentric requests while in custody, including access to strippers and a golf putting green.
He also asked that potential jurors be vetted based on their opinions about Gaza and Trump’s past proposal to purchase Greenland—requests that were denied by the court.
Routh was apprehended on September 15, 2024, after a Secret Service agent spotted what appeared to be the barrel of a rifle emerging from a bush near the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, where the former president was playing at the time.
The agent opened fire, and Routh fled the scene but was captured shortly afterward.
The incident occurred in the aftermath of a separate assassination attempt on Trump two months earlier.
On July 13, 2024, a 20-year-old man named Matthew Crooks opened fire during a Trump campaign rally, injuring Trump slightly and killing one attendee.
That event marked a turning point in Trump’s political comeback.
Presiding over Routh’s trial is Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge who previously drew national attention after dismissing charges related to Trump’s handling of classified documents.
Routh’s self-representation has added a layer of complexity to the case. Public defenders initially assigned to him were dismissed after Routh refused to cooperate. In a court filing, the lawyers stated:
“It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to do so.”
Judge Cannon agreed to allow Routh to serve as his own attorney but ordered that a standby counsel be available in court.
Authorities have yet to determine a clear motive.
Routh previously voted for Trump in 2016 but has since expressed disdain for him, referring to the former president as a “baboon” and “idiot” in court filings.
Reports also indicate that Routh developed an obsession with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, even traveling to Kyiv to join foreign volunteer forces.
However, he was rejected due to his age and lack of combat experience.
As proceedings get underway, legal experts say the case will likely draw national attention, not only due to its high-profile target, but also because of the defendant’s erratic behavior and choice to represent himself.
