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Routh is alleged to have plotted to kill Trump at his Palm Beach golf course (Image: Getty)
The man alleged to have plotted the assassination of Donald Trump is trying to fire his federal legal team. Ryan Routh is charged with planning to kill the then-presidential hopeful at his Palm Beach golf course in the run-up to last year's presidential election.
Prosecutors allege that Routh pointed a rifle at Trump whilst concealed in bushes September 15, 2024. They say that only the diligence of a Secret Service agent who spotted Routh’s presence saved Trump from being fired on for a second time that year. A document filed in Florida federal court on Tuesday states: “Ryan Routh respectfully requests the court set a hearing to terminate the representation of his appointed counsel and their office.”
Routh denies the charges against him (Image: Getty)
It is unclear why Routh wants to remove his legal team, with his trial set to start in September, but the move comes nearly a year to the day since the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump when shots were fired in his direction as he addressed a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On that occasion, the now president suffered a minor injury to his ear before being bundled away by Secret Service agents.
Routh has denied the charges against him and in May, Routh's court-appointed lawyers attempted to have two charges against him dropped on the grounds of the second amendment.
The defence team’s preparation for his trial is at an advanced stage, with work having commenced in September.
Routh was allegedly spotted hiding in bushes with a rifle (Image: Getty)
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As well as the assassination attempt, Routh is facing trial for owning a handgun despite being a convicted felon and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Last year, Routh wrote a strange letter from prison which was sent to the offices of the media outlet Politico.
In it he said: “I am unclear how we allowed ourselves to fall into just a two-party system, but it infuriates me,' wrote Routh.
“My entire life has been plagued by D’s and R’s. It seems not long ago there was a push for the libertarian party and now a green party and maybe Truth party. But for some reason our leaders have not allowed any other party [to] be recognised in any race.”
“A guard in Palm Beach asked jokingly if I was a democrat — I said, ‘NO — Independent — I vote for the best candidate.”
English (US) · 