Here’s what happened.
The trial for Ryan Wesley Routh, the individual accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump earlier this year, has been postponed until September 2025. A federal judge ruled on Monday to push back the trial’s start from February 10, 2025, to September 8, 2025, granting additional time for the defense team to prepare their case.
Routh, 58, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the high-profile assassination attempt. His defense team requested the delay, citing the need for more time to review a vast amount of evidence before deciding whether to pursue an insanity defense. The evidence includes 17 cellphones and other electronic devices that Routh allegedly owned, as well as hundreds of hours of police body camera footage and surveillance videos.
US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously oversaw the dismissal of charges related to former President Trump’s classified documents case, agreed with the defense’s request for more time. She ruled that the complexity and seriousness of the charges warranted a delay, ensuring a fair trial for Routh. Judge Cannon further ordered that the defense must decide whether to pursue an insanity defense by early February 2025. Additionally, the legal team must complete any site visits related to the crime by the end of that month.
Routh faces life in prison if convicted of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, as well as charges related to assaulting a federal officer and firearms violations. Federal prosecutors allege that Routh spent weeks planning the attack on Trump, who was playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2023. Routh, armed with a rifle, hid in the bushes outside the golf course with the intent to carry out the assassination.
The plot was foiled when a Secret Service agent spotted Routh and fired at him, though the agent missed every shot. Routh fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement about 40 minutes later on a Florida interstate.
This assassination attempt follows a disturbing incident just two months earlier when Trump was grazed by a sniper’s bullet at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Both incidents highlight the ongoing threats against the former president, as well as the constant danger he faces, even as he prepares for a potential return to the White House. The legal proceedings for Routh’s case will continue to unfold, with the eyes of the nation watching closely.