Ryan Routh, 58, is already facing two gun-related charges.
Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a man suspected of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
Ryan Routh, 58, is already facing two gun-related charges after authorities said he pointed a rifle through a fence at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15 while the Republican presidential candidate was golfing. On Monday, a judge ordered that he remain in jail to await trial.
An indictment submitted Tuesday by Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors cited documents that contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October when Trump was slated to appear or had appeared at public venues.
Meanwhile, cellphone records for two of Routh’s phones found in the vehicle he was using showed that between Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, his phone accessed cell towers near Trump’s golf course and Mar-a-Lago.
Court documents that were filed in the case showed that a witness told law enforcement that Routh had dropped off a box to the witness, which included a note from Routh stating, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
Aside from the assassination charge, Routh faces charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, according to the DOJ.
Routh was charged with felony crimes in 2002 for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
If convicted, Routh could face life imprisonment, the DOJ said.
In the incident earlier this month, a U.S. Secret Service agent patrolling the golf course ahead of Trump opened fire after discovering the gun poking through the fence, causing Routh to flee, prosecutors said. Routh was arrested within an hour along a Florida highway.
Routh was initially charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
