Guilty Verdict Sparks Courtroom Chaos
In a dramatic turn, Ryan Routh, the man accused in the Trump assassination attempt, was found guilty on all charges Tuesday. Moments after the verdict, Routh grabbed a pen and tried to stab himself in the neck before officers swarmed and restrained him.
The jury of five men and seven women deliberated for just two hours before delivering their unanimous decision. Routh, 59, now faces life in prison when he is sentenced on December 18.
Emotional Outburst From Family
As marshals dragged Routh from the courtroom, his daughter cried out: “Dad, I love you, don’t do anything. I’ll get you out.” Outside, she and her brother waited at the courthouse gates, insisting the trial was rigged.
When Routh was returned before the judge, shackled and without his jacket or tie, he showed no visible injuries.
The Charges Against Routh
Routh faced a long list of charges, including:
Attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate
Assaulting a federal officer
Possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon
Using a firearm in furtherance of violence
Possessing a weapon with an obliterated serial number
He had pleaded not guilty and chose to represent himself during trial.
Prosecutors Detail Plot
Prosecutors argued Routh spent weeks planning to kill Trump, stalking him at a Florida golf course on September 15, 2024. They said he aimed a rifle from shrubbery as Trump neared the sixth hole, but dropped his weapon when confronted by a Secret Service agent who opened fire.
A witness testified that he saw Routh fleeing after the gunfire, later confirming his identity during the arrest.
Routh’s Defense Strategy
Representing himself, Routh insisted he never intended to fire his weapon. “It’s hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled,” he told jurors. He called only three witnesses, compared to 38 called by prosecutors.
Attorney General Pam Bondi later praised the guilty verdict, calling the attempted assassination “an affront to our very nation.”
A Troubled Past
Routh’s background paints a picture of volatility. Once a North Carolina construction worker, he reinvented himself as a self-styled mercenary leader, trying to recruit fighters for conflicts in Ukraine.
His criminal record includes weapons charges, stolen goods, and a bizarre 2002 standoff where police found him with an automatic weapon and an explosive device. Despite these cases, he largely avoided long prison terms.
Larger Context
The assassination plot came just nine weeks after another attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania, where he survived with only a graze to his ear. That attack ended when a Secret Service sniper fatally shot the gunman.
Routh, however, never fired a shot. Still, prosecutors convinced jurors that his intent and preparation proved his guilt beyond doubt.
What Comes Next
Routh remains in custody and will be sentenced on December 18. Beyond his federal conviction, he also faces state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
As the courtroom chaos shows, the case has left emotions raw for both his family and the wider public.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the latest updates on the Trump assassination attempt trial and sentencing.
