Donald Trump’s Would-Be Assassin Convicted, Tries to Stab Himself
NEED TO KNOW
- Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate then presidential candidate Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida last year
- Routh had pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges he faced and defended himself
- The jury deliberated for two hours
A man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year at his golf course tried to stab himself in the neck on Tuesday, Sept. 23, after a jury found him guilty, according to The Associated Press.
Jurors found Ryan Routh guilty on all counts in the Sept. 15, 2024, assassination attempt, during which Trump was unharmed. Trump was a presidential candidate at the time.
After the jurors exited the courtroom, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen, prompting Marshals to drag him out of the courthouse, according to the AP.
The outlet reported his daughter Sara Routh screamed: “Dad, I love you don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody.”
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Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He represented himself in court.
Routh, 59, did not testify at his trial. In his closing argument, he told jurors he didn’t intend to kill anyone that day. He rested his case Monday morning after questioning just three witnesses — a firearms expert and two characters witnesses, according to The Associated Press.
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