A man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump wrote a letter addressed to the world months before the incident on Sept. 15, according to a new filing from the Justice Department. Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly wrote the letter, which was discovered in a box he dropped off at a witness’s home.
The witness reported that he opened the box only after learning about the assassination attempt.
The letter stated, “Dear world. This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.” It also criticized Trump for ending relations with Iran, saying he did so “like a child,” and he claimed the Middle East has unraveled as a result.
Routh previously self-published a book suggesting that Iran should “feel free to assassinate Trump.” The witness who found the letter has not been identified by the DOJ. The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, tools, other letters with unknown contents, and four cellphones.
Prosecutors have detailed the incident in a detention filing. The four cellphones found in the box were in addition to six others discovered in Routh’s car, one of which contained a Google search on how to travel from Florida to Mexico. Routh’s passport was also located in the car.
Prosecutors believe Routh waited nearly 12 hours at the golf course on Sept. 15, after previously staking out the site multiple times in the preceding month, according to cellphone data. He also had a list of dates and locations where Trump was expected to be from August to October.
Routh is currently facing federal gun charges, including possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and having a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Investigators indicate that more serious charges may be brought as the investigation continues.
![Russia Today [🇷🇺-affiliated] logo](https://groundnews.b-cdn.net/interests/d3a6b2444d4740f3e75a430e54a0cb4d24ee6cc6.jpg)
