FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh, found guilty of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on a golf course in Florida, received a sentence of life in prison on Wednesday. The decision was prompted by a federal prosecutor's assertion that such actions are intolerable in the United States.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon reflected on the chaotic courtroom scene from September when Routh had attempted self-harm shortly after the jury rendered a guilty verdict. American democracy does not work when individuals take it into their own hands to eliminate candidates. That’s what this individual tried to do,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley remarked during the proceedings.
Despite Routh's defense attorney, Martin L. Roth, arguing for leniency due to Routh's last-minute decision not to kill Trump, Judge Cannon pointed out Routh's extensive criminal history. Your plot to kill was deliberate and evil. You are not a peaceful man. You are not a good man, she stated firmly, before issuing the sentences that ran concurrently with a seven-year sentence for a gun charge.
Routh, who presented an extensive 20-page statement to the court, claimed he had lived a good life, but Judge Cannon interrupted, emphasizing the irrelevance of his words to the gravity of his crimes. Routh's defense had sought a sixteen-year sentence, arguing his age should factor into the decision.
In September 2024, Routh had plotted the assassination during a golf game, raising a firearm at a federal officer instead of Trump. Prosecutors noted his plan was calculated, and he showed no remorse, posing significant risks to others.
His behavior and previous convictions, which included advocating for violence against Trump, further influenced the court's decision. In the face of overwhelming evidence and a clear disregard for the law, Routh's actions reflect ongoing concerns regarding political violence in America.
