Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, was denied bail during a court appearance on Monday.
Routh, 58, faces two federal gun charges: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In court, Routh’s defense team, led by his sister—a licensed attorney from North Carolina—requested his release on bail.
She offered to house Routh under her supervision while he awaited trial. However, the judge denied the request, ordering Routh to remain in custody, citing the severity of the charges and the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors presented evidence that raised serious concerns about Routh’s intentions.
They revealed that the FBI had discovered six cellphones in Routh’s Nissan Xterra, one of which contained a Google search for directions on how to travel from Palm Beach, Florida, to Mexico.
This suggested that Routh may have been planning to flee the country.
According to court documents, cellphone records showed that Routh traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 14, 2024.
Over the following weeks, Routh’s cellphone data indicated he was near Trump International Golf Club and Mar-a-Lago multiple times, from August 18 to September 15.
These locations are significant, as they are closely associated with the former president, suggesting Routh was surveilling Trump’s movements.
Additional evidence found in Routh’s vehicle included 12 pairs of gloves, a Hawaii driver’s license in his name, his passport, and a handwritten list of dates and locations where Trump had either appeared or was scheduled to appear in the upcoming months.
Prosecutors argued that this list was part of Routh’s preparation to carry out the assassination.
A letter written by Routh, in which he admitted his intent to assassinate Trump, was also brought to light. Despite this confession, Routh has so far only been charged with the two federal gun crimes. However, prosecutors have indicated that more serious charges could be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors argued that Routh’s presence in South Florida was solely for the purpose of assassinating Trump.
“Any established ties to the Southern District of Florida is for one reason only, and that was to kill former President Trump,” a prosecutor stated in court.
Despite the defense’s attempts to secure bail by pointing to Routh’s sister’s willingness to supervise him, the judge ultimately ruled that Routh would be held without bail pending trial.
The judge’s decision reflected the seriousness of the charges and the potential threat Routh posed to the former president and public safety.
As the case moves forward, it remains to be seen what additional charges might be filed against Routh and how the court will address the assassination attempt.
