Ryan Wesley Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, left behind a note outlining his intent to kill Trump, prosecutors revealed Monday. The note, along with a handwritten list of Trump’s upcoming appearances, was presented as evidence of a planned attack thwarted by the Secret Service.
The Justice Department provided new details during a detention hearing for 58-year-old Routh, arguing that he should remain in custody as the case proceeds. The information supports claims that Routh had a concrete plan to assassinate Trump but was stopped by a Secret Service agent who spotted a rifle emerging from the bushes at the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing.
Routh’s note, addressed “Dear World,” was left in a box dropped off at the home of an unidentified person, who later contacted law enforcement. The note, which seems to acknowledge the possibility of failure, read, “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.”
An attorney for Routh did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
In a search of Routh’s car, authorities discovered six cellphones, including one that contained a search query for travel directions from Palm Beach County to Mexico. Additionally, they found a list of dates and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to appear in August, September, and October, as well as a notebook filled with anti-Russian and anti-Chinese government sentiments and notes on how to join the war in Ukraine.
Cellphone records show that Routh traveled from Greensboro to West Palm Beach in mid-August and was near Trump’s golf club and Mar-a-Lago residence on multiple occasions between August 18 and the day of the attempted assassination. His movements indicate a persistent effort to carry out the attack before being intercepted by the Secret Service.
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