A federal judge on Wednesday will decide whether Ryan Wesley Routh, 60, convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course in September 2024, should receive life in federal prison.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence after a jury convicted Routh last year on five counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. They say Routh “painstakingly” plotted to kill Trump, took significant steps toward that goal, showed a will to kill anyone in his way, and has shown no remorse.
After a two-and-a-half-week trial in September, jurors found Routh guilty. Authorities say he hid in the bushes at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle at Trump and a Secret Service agent. Prosecutors described the crimes as carefully plotted, extensively premeditated, and motivated by a desire to prevent Americans from electing their chosen candidate, citing Routh’s statements tying his actions to events in Ukraine and U.S. politics.
Routh represented himself at trial and argued his actions were a protest and that he did not intend to harm Trump or the agent. After his conviction, he attempted to harm himself in front of the jury by stabbing himself with a pen. He was later appointed an attorney for sentencing.
For mitigation, Routh’s lawyer has asked for a 27-year sentence, arguing Routh could not fairly defend himself at trial after choosing to represent himself despite warnings. The defense submitted character letters and a psychiatric evaluation indicating Routh may suffer from narcissistic personality disorder and bipolar II disorder. A letter from a Kyiv resident who met Routh while he attempted to volunteer for Ukraine’s defense described him as an asset to the community and urged a chance for eventual return to family life.
Prosecutors counter that Routh has shown little remorse, pointing to recent writings referencing an earlier attempt on Trump’s life and statements such as “I hate our dictator missed the trial, can my appeal be heard in 30 years when he is gone.” In another filing, Routh suggested he preferred Trump personally punish him, writing that if the president wished to “pummel the defendant just for good measure,” he would accept it.
Sentencing will occur in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump and previously dismissed a 2024 criminal case against him concerning classified documents. Routh’s bid to have Cannon removed, arguing her appointment by Trump presented a conflict of interest, was unsuccessful.