Assassination Attempt Archives

Trial of man accused in Trump assassination attempt in Florida pushed back to September

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida won’t be tried until September 2025. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order released on Monday that Ryan Routh’s trial will begin Sept. 8 instead of the previously scheduled Feb. 10 start date. Routh has pleaded not guilty. Routh’s attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial until next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to mount an insanity defense. Routh’s charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries a potential life sentence in the event of a conviction.… Continue Reading

Panel looking into Trump assassination attempt says Secret Service needs ‘fundamental reform’

WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent panel investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally says the Secret Service needs fundamental reform” and new leadership that “another Butler can and will happen again” without major changes in how candidates are protected. The review faulted the Secret Service for poor communications that day and failing to secure the building where the gunman took his shots. It also found more systemic issues at the agency such as a failure to understand the unique risks facing Trump and a culture of doing “more with less.” The 52-page report issued Thursday recommended bringing in new, outside leadership and refocusing on its protective mission.… Continue Reading

Trump rallies at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate him

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump is rallying supporters at the same Pennsylvania grounds where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July setting aside what are now near-constant worries for his physical safety. The Republican presidential nominee returned to the site on Saturday joined by running mate JD Vance, Elon Musk and others on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show. The Trump campaign wanted to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential with just 30 days to go in his race against his Democratic opponent Vice President Kamala Harris.… Continue Reading

Hearing on Trump assassination attempts says Pennsylvania failure was by Secret Service

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of a bipartisan House task force investigating the Trump assassination attempts emphasized during their first hearing that the Secret Service, not local authorities, was responsible for failures in planning and communications that led to a gunman being able to open fire on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers repeatedly questioned why the agency tasked with protecting the country’s top leaders didn’t do a better job communicating with local authorities during the July 13 rally, particularly when it came to securing the building that Thomas Michael Crooks was able to climb up and open fire on Trump.… Continue Reading

A tale of crushing security lapses and missed chances to stop the man who shot Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Investigations into the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in July have revealed striking security lapses. But the questions have only grown since then. As the country deals with an apparent second attempt on Trump’s life, there’s still a reckoning to be done from the Pennsylvania shooting that killed one man and wounded three — the ex-president among them. The Secret Service was one of at least nine federal and local security divisions that were supposed to be working together that day. But at Trump’s rally, a young man with a rifle borrowed from his dad outmaneuvered authorities for more than 90 minutes before firing the shots that came millimeters from killing Trump.… Continue Reading

Man who staked out Trump at Florida golf course charged with attempting an assassination

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man who authorities say staked out Donald Trump for 12 hours on his golf course in Florida and wrote of his desire to kill him has been indicted on charges that he attempted to assassinate the former president. Ryan Wesley Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. The upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department’s assessment that he methodically plotted to kill the Republican nominee, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon Trump was playing on it. Routh left behind a note in which he described his intention.… Continue Reading

Feds: Man accused in apparent assassination attempt left note indicating he intended to kill Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump wrote a note months earlier saying that he intended to kill the former president. That’s according to a detention memo filed by the Justice Department. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed with the Justice Department that Routh should remain locked up, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and that he should stay behind bars. The note, addressed “Dear World,” was dropped off at the home of an unidentified person who contacted federal authorities following the arrest last Sunday of Ryan Wesley Routh. The box, which also contained ammunition, a metal pipe and other items, was not opened by the person until after Routh was taken into custody.… Continue Reading

Trump and Harris resume campaigning after second apparent assassination attempt

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential election campaigning is revving back up. Donald Trump heads on Tuesday to Michigan and Vice President Kamala Harris answers questions at a Black journalists forum in Pennsylvania. Their travels come as authorities continue to investigate a second apparent assassination attempt against Trump that’s roiled the race. Trump is holding a town hall in Flint, Michigan, and has appearances later in the week in New York, Washington and North Carolina. Harris will participate in a Philadelphia gathering of the National Association of Black Journalists. That follows a recent appearance before the group by Trump that sparked an uproar when he questioned the vice president’s racial identity.… Continue Reading

Trump blames Biden and Harris’ rhetoric toward him despite his own history of going after rivals

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is blaming rhetoric from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the apparent assassination attempt on him in Florida despite his own history of going after rivals. This year’s presidential campaign was among the most turbulent in American history even before Sunday’s incident in Florida. Trump was safe after the incident in Florida and praised the Secret Service for protecting him, but didn’t shy away from quickly blaming his opponents. By contrast, Biden steered clear of politics. He said Monday that “thank God” Trump is OK and said the Secret Service “needs more help.”… Continue Reading

Suspect in apparent assassination attempt on Trump was near golf course for 12 hours, records show

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The man suspected in an apparent assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump camped outside a golf course with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours before a Secret Service agent confronted him and opened fire. That’s according to court documents filed Monday. Ryan Wesley Routh, who is 58, faces charges of possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional and more serious charges are possible as the investigation continues and Justice Department prosecutors seek an indictment from a grand jury.… Continue Reading