Ryan Routh, accused of trying to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in September, may use an insanity defense in his upcoming trial. Public defenders said a mental health expert has met with Routh at least twice and that Routh has also met with jail mental health professionals who can prove his mental health state. One witness claimed Routh was “hallucinating” and others said he was “delusional” before his arrest.
Prosecutors alleged that Routh had written up to 40 letters to national news outlets in an attempt to persuade the press that he’s an “honorable guy.” Routh pleaded not guilty to five counts, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer, and his trial is scheduled for February 10, 2025.
Routh’s attorneys have also filed a motion for a continuance, asking for the trial to be delayed until December 2025 due to the “extraordinary volume” of discovery still being examined. Prosecutors said they will be prepared for trial in February but are not opposed to a “reasonable” delay, although they believe a continuance until December 2025 would not be “reasonable.”
The defense claims that proceeding with the scheduled trial would result in a miscarriage of justice, while prosecutors said that 17 of the 18 cell phones found during the investigation belonged to Routh and that a “massive amount of law enforcement agents and agencies” have been working to assess Routh’s movements in both the U.S. and “multiple countries abroad.”