Federal prosecutors said they will pursue an attempted assassination charge against the man accused of staking out former President Donald Trump on Sept. 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ryan Routh was in federal court Monday, Sept 23, for a detention hearing.
The judge ruled Routh will stay behind bars until his trial, citing evidence in the case. Authorities said Routh was armed with a high-powered rifle when he hid in the trees on Trump’s golf course.
Prosecutors say months before the incident, Routh gave an unnamed witness a box with a letter inside. The letter detailed an apparent assassination attempt against Trump and mentioned a $150,000 reward to anyone who could “complete the job.”
The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, tools and four phones.
Routh already faces two federal firearms charges. In addition to that, prosecutors said during Monday’s hearing that they plan to ask a grand jury to return a new indictment with the charge of attempted assassination against a political figure.
It carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Meanwhile, Trump accused the Justice Department of “downplaying” the assassination plot. He said state officials in Florida should take over the investigation and prosecution.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said, “The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist. It’s no wonder since the DOJ and FBI have been coming after me nonstop with weaponized warfare since I announced my first historic campaign for President.”
The DOJ has not responded to Trump’s claims.
Recently, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., spoke to ABC News about both attempted assassination attempts against Trump.
“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue,” Kelly said. “This is an American issue. We have to protect those who we have up for election and those that are already serving. It’s a very dangerous time for us to be looking at this and thinking this is just the way the world is. It’s not and we cannot accept this as Americans.”
Kelly is the chair of the bipartisan panel created to investigate the Trump assassination attempt in July. It has expanded to include the Florida incident as well.