Former AG Barr Criticizes DOJ for Releasing Assassin's Letter

Former Attorney General William Barr expressed his astonishment at the Justice Department's decision to publicly release a letter from Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The letter, which was addressed 'Dear World,' included a call to action for others to complete the assassination and offered a monetary reward for doing so. Barr criticized the release as reckless, especially given the context of two previous assassination attempts on Trump and the ongoing election period. The letter was obtained from a witness who received it in a box from Routh, which also contained ammunition and other letters. Barr argued that the DOJ had sufficient evidence to detain Routh without making the letter public, suggesting that they could have redacted sensitive information or submitted it under seal. He emphasized that the release served no purpose other than to potentially incite further violence. Routh's actions included traveling from North Carolina to Florida, where he was linked to Trump's golf course and Mar-a-Lago residence through cell phone data. Investigators also discovered a book authored by Routh in 2023, which discussed various global conflicts and the concept of democracy. As the investigation continues, Routh is expected to face additional charges, including aggravated assault for allegedly threatening a Secret Service agent. The DOJ has not yet commented on Barr's criticisms, leaving questions about the implications of their decision to release such inflammatory material.