Jury Convicts Man in Attempted Trump Assassination, Crash

A federal jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, found 59-year-old Ryan Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and of multiple related charges, including assaulting a federal officer, firearms offenses, and attempted felony murder for a crash that injured a child. Jurors reached the verdict after a two-week trial in which Routh represented himself, was repeatedly reprimanded by Judge Aileen Cannon, pleaded not guilty and told jurors he did not intend to kill anyone. Prosecutors presented digital and forensic evidence that Routh stalked Trump’s movements for weeks, repeatedly scoped locations at the West Palm Beach golf course, left a confession and a bounty note, and was found hiding in shrubbery pointing an SKS-style rifle through a fence. Agents fired at Routh during the incident; he was arrested about 45 minutes later with the rifle and bullet‑resistant plates bearing his prints. The jury convicted him on counts including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and related counts; he faces years in prison and potentially life. After the verdict Routh reportedly tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen and was restrained by U.S. Marshals.