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A man convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for what prosecutors described as a calculated and premeditated plot.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon imposed the sentence on Ryan Wesley Routh during a hearing in Fort Pierce, Fla. The life term is the maximum punishment for attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. Routh also received an additional mandatory seven-year sentence related to a firearm offense.
Routh, 59, was found guilty last September on multiple charges after serving as his own defense attorney during the trial. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before convicting him on all counts, including attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer and several firearms violations.
Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks tracking Trump's movements before hiding in thick shrubbery near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15, 2024. According to testimony, a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted Routh lying in wait with a semi-automatic rifle as Trump played golf nearby. When Routh pointed the weapon toward the agent, the agent fired, causing Routh to flee. He was arrested shortly afterward during a traffic stop.
In court, Judge Cannon said the evidence showed a deliberate attempt to take a life, citing Routh's extensive criminal history and lack of remorse. Investigators said Routh carried multiple cellphones, used false names and left behind a rifle, metal plates resembling body armor and a video camera aimed at the course.
Routh's attorney, Martin Roth, requested a 27-year sentence, arguing that Routh's age and mental health issues warranted leniency. The judge rejected the request. Roth said following the hearing that he plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Routh appeared shackled and wearing prison clothing during sentencing, delivering a rambling statement that did not directly address the attack. He will remain in federal custody for the rest of his life.
