According to a federal court filing submitted on Monday, a 58-year-old man who is accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump reportedly admitted in a prewritten note that he had plotted the attack and even predicted its failure.
The filing stated that Ryan W. Routh, the individual in question, had been monitoring the grounds of Mr. Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., for a month prior to the incident.
On September 15, he positioned himself outside the fence at the sixth hole of the course.
An agent of the Secret Service, who was scouting one hole ahead of the former president’s party, observed him and the barrel of his gun.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Routh had positioned himself in close proximity to the sixth hole at the time of his appearance with the intention of firing a semiautomatic rifle at Mr. Trump from a relatively close distance.
The rifle, which was left at the scene and was equipped with a scope, contained a projectile in the chamber and a total of 11 rounds.
Additionally, Mr. Routh’s fingerprint was discovered on the weapon by the investigators.
NEW: DOJ released note it says was written by Trump’s would-be assassin Ryan Routh, delivered several months ago to unnamed recipient: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you…” @livenowfox pic.twitter.com/JKTkajeSYK
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) September 23, 2024
Mr. Routh also stated in the note that Mr. Trump was unqualified to serve as president. Mr. Routh had left the note at the home several months prior to the shooting, suggesting that he had been preparing the assassination for an extended period.
On Monday morning, Mr. Routh was scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate in West Palm Beach for a detention hearing.
Last week, he was charged with the possession of a firearm as a felon, a crime that entails a prison sentence of up to 15 years, and the possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The new information was disclosed by prosecutors in a memo that was intended to persuade a federal magistrate to incarcerate Mr. Routh indefinitely while he awaits trial.
The filing provides the most comprehensive depiction to date of a contractor who was itinerant and impoverished, and who repeatedly expressed his willingness to perish in defense of Ukraine.
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