Florida to prosecute would-be Donald Trump assassin

Ryan Routh is heading to Fort to stand trial in federal court.

Ryan Wesley Routh will finally face state charges associated with his scheme to shoot President Donald Trump.

Attorney General James Uthmeier says Routh will be charged for the “attempted first degree murder of President Trump” and “terrorism.” Routh tried to fire at Trump on his own golf course last year in West Palm Beach, but Secret Service agents fired at the gunman before he fled and was eventually arrested.

During his announcement, Uthmeier blamed the Joe Biden administration for “stonewalling” Florida’s attempt to probe Routh’s actions since September 2024 and credited Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for helping to protect “Florida’s sovereign authority to do what is right and bring justice where it is due.”

Days after the suspect was apprehended, Trump called for Florida to investigate the attempt on his life, arguing that he trusted the state of Florida more than he did the FBI under Biden.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody agreed. The Governor argued that the feds lacked jurisdiction to pursue an attempted murder charge, and said that if he were convicted, Routh could spend his life in prison.

Routh faces two federal counts: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He could get 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine if convicted of these charges.

If Routh is convicted of both felony charges advanced by Uthmeier, he could serve longer than that.

For terrorism and attempted first-degree murder, the maximum penalty is 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.