Ryan W. Routh, 59, an itinerant building contractor from North Carolina, was also found guilty of assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations. The 12-member jury deliberated for about two and a half hours, following a fast-moving trial in which Mr. Routh chose to defend himself without a lawyer.
After the verdict was read in court, Mr. Routh appeared to try to stab himself in the neck several times with a pen. Several United States marshals restrained him and removed him from the courtroom. He returned a few minutes later, shackled and escorted by marshals. His necktie and jacket had been removed, but he did not appear to be injured.
According to a press release from the Office of Public Affairs for the Department of Justice (DOJ), it was revealed that Routh was convicted of five federal counts, which include:
…attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; assaulting a federal officer (the Secret Service Special Agent, Robert Fercano), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The press release noted that “then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano – who was patrolling one hole ahead of the president at the golf course — spotted Routh pointing an AK-style rifle at Special Agent Fercano from a sniper’s hide in the fence abutting the golf course.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano – who was patrolling one hole ahead of the president at the golf course – spotted Routh pointing an AK-style rifle at Special Agent Fercano from a sniper’s hide in the fence abutting the golf course. Agent Fercano, in fear of his life and the life of President Trump, opened fire at Routh, who fled. Law enforcement subsequently found a loaded SKS-style rifle equipped with a scope, a magazine containing an additional nineteen rounds of ammunition and the safety off, steel armor plates, and a camera attached to the fence pointing toward the sixth hole green of the golf course, where Routh had been hiding.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump thanked Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for Routh’s conviction.
“The trial was meticulously handled, and I would like to thank the Judge and Jury for their time, professionalism, and patience,” Trump wrote. “This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him.”
Breitbart News
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