A federal judge imposed a life sentence following a jury conviction for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during a 2024 incident at his West Palm Beach golf course.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday following his conviction on multiple federal charges stemming from a 2024 attack at Trump’s Florida golf course.
According to reporting by The Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the sentence in Fort Pierce, Florida, in the same courtroom where Routh caused a disturbance last September after jurors returned guilty verdicts on all counts. Prosecutors had sought life imprisonment without parole, arguing that Routh showed no remorse and never apologized for his actions. Defense counsel requested a 27-year sentence, citing Routh’s age. Judge Cannon ultimately imposed a life sentence, along with a consecutive seven-year term tied to a firearms conviction.
Routh, 59, was found guilty in September following a two-week federal trial. Jurors convicted him on five counts, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple gun-related offenses, according to The Gateway Pundit.
As the verdict was read aloud, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen, prompting courtroom chaos. Video and eyewitness accounts of the incident circulated widely, including a post shared by Fox News, which stated that Routh “appeared to try and stab himself in the neck with a pen after hearing his guilty verdict.”
Federal prosecutors said the attempted assassination occurred in 2024 when Routh allegedly pushed the muzzle of a rifle through a fence line at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. Investigators testified that Routh had established a concealed sniper position in shrubbery outside the course perimeter.
Law enforcement agents searching the area where Routh fled discovered a GoPro camera, two backpacks, food supplies, and a loaded SKS-style 7.62×39 caliber rifle equipped with a scope. Authorities also found ceramic tiles inside one backpack, which investigators believe could have been used as improvised body armor.
In closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that the evidence overwhelmingly showed Routh intended to kill Trump, pointing to his preparations, equipment, and actions at the scene.
Routh’s conviction and life sentence bring a close to one of the most serious criminal cases tied to threats against a sitting U.S. president in recent years, though court records indicate he will remain subject to federal custody for the remainder of his life.
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