Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced state-level charges on Thursday against Ryan Wesley Routh, the attempted assassin of then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last year.
“On September 15th, 2024, Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate then presidential candidate Donald J. Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach,” Uthmeirer said. “Shortly after the assassination attempt, Governor DeSantis signed an executive order directing the Office of Attorney General to work with our law enforcement partners and investigate Mr. Routh.”
“After 206 days of stonewalling by the federal government, that stemmed from days of the Biden administration, I’m able to now announce that my office is charging Mr. Routh for the attempted first-degree murder of President Trump, as well as a charge for terrorism,” Uthmerier added.
Attorney General James Uthmeier continued to criticize the Biden administration for slow-walking the state's efforts.
“My office, as well as our law enforcement partners, were met with major roadblocks in prosecuting this case during Biden’s term,” Uthmeier said. “Biden and his attorney general sought to frustrate our efforts and block our investigation into the man who crossed into this state and attempted to commit political violence against a Florida resident. Thank God he was unsuccessful. And thank God we have Donald Trump as president again.”
Uthmeier went on to thank US Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for being "instrumental in preserving Florida’s sovereign authority to do what is right and bring justice where it is due."
"We now have a federal government willing to work with the states to pursue justice," Uthmeier said.
Then candidate Trump was also nearly assassinated while speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The 20-year-old man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot and wounded Trump in his upper right ear using an AR-15-style rifle from a nearby rooftop.
Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service counter sniper seconds later. While Trump's life was spared, the shooting took the life of rally attendee Corey Comperatore and critically injured two others.
Trump was not injured in the Routh assassination, whose failed attempt using an SKS-style rifle came through the fence line of the golf course. Trump was golfing about 300-500 yards from Routh with Steve Witkoff.
After a Secret Service agent spotted and shot at Routh, he fled the scene. He was later captured and arrested by Martin County deputies.
“Attempting to take the life of a former president and a leading presidential candidate isn’t just an attack on one man. This was a political attack against our republican form of government and our shared American values. We cannot allow justice to be delayed or denied,” Uthemeier said
“And thanks to the president, our U.S. attorney general, and the FBI director, we are moving forward in our pursuit,” Uthmeier added. “Our statewide prosecutors will work to hold this evil man accountable. and keep Florida safe, strong and free.”
