The man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Trump at one of his Florida golf courses earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, appeared in federal court Monday to enter not guilty pleas to counts including attempted assassination of a major political candidate and assault of a federal officer, after he allegedly poked a rifle through the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, prompting a Secret Service agent to fire.
Routh also pleaded not guilty to charges he possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number despite being a convicted felon in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Prosecutors say Routh planned to kill Trump as he golfed on Sept. 15, staking out the perimeter of the course near its sixth hole for roughly 12 hours until he was noticed and fled. They revealed last week that Routh allegedly wrote a letter months before the assassination attempt detailing his plans.
“Dear world, this was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you,” Routh wrote, according to the letter filed by prosecutors. “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”
At his arraignment Monday, which lasted less than five minutes, Routh’s lawyer requested a jury trial, according to NewsNation.
While waiting for the judge to enter the courtroom, Routh smirked at media in the courtroom and nodded at a sketch artist, NewsNation reported.
