Trump's second alleged assassin charged after stalking him for months

In the United States, the man charged with a second alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is Ryan Routh, who is currently awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to federal charges. Routh’s alleged attempt occurred on September 15, 2024, at Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, following months of stalking the president. Routh's cellphone data positioned him near Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence throughout August and September, indicating a premeditated plan to carry out the assassination. Prior to this incident, another gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, attempted to shoot Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, but was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper, averting a tragedy. Routh expressed his opinions in a jailhouse letter providing insight into his motivations. In this letter, he compared himself to Crooks, mentioning they were both willing to die for “freedom and democracy.” He cautioned about the concentration of military power with the president and suggested that Congress should hold this power if Trump were to remain in office. Routh identified himself as an “Independent” and criticized the two-party system, which he believes undermined the democratic principle of diverse political representation. The evidence against Routh includes a list detailing Trump’s past and expected appearances from August to October, indicating the systematic approach he took in planning the assassination attempt. A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel near the golf course aimed toward Trump, leading to a confrontation that forced Routh to flee the scene, where police later recovered a firearm with an unreadable serial number and bulletproof armor plates. The U.S. Department of Justice emphasizes the severity of the violence targeting public officials, asserting that they will employ all resources available to hold Routh accountable for his actions. The attempted assassination charge carries the possibility of a life sentence, reflecting the serious implications Routh's actions could have had on the safety of public figures and the nation's democratic values. His trial is set to begin on February 20, 2025, highlighting the ongoing legal consequences stemming from this incident.