Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump can represent himself at
trial, judge says
[July 25, 2025]
By DAVID FISCHER
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man charged with trying to assassinate
President Donald Trump last year in South Florida can represent himself
during his trial, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off on Ryan Routh’s request but
said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.
Earlier in the week, the federal public defenders had asked to be taken
off the case, saying Routh had refused repeated attempts to meet with
them.
Routh said during the hearing that his attorneys were diligent, but they
didn't listen to him and were afraid of him.
“How are they supposed to represent me and say I'm not a dangerous
person when they don't believe that?” Routh said.
Routh, 59, is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after
prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to
shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges
of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting
a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Reiterating her message from a July 10 hearing, Cannon told Routh that
she doesn’t intend to delay the Sept. 8 start date of his trial, even if
she lets him represent himself. She also once again told Routh that she
believes it's a bad idea for Routh to represent himself.
Routh, who said he completed two years of college after earning his GED
certificate, told Cannon that he understands the potential challenges
and would be ready for trial.
Cannon said Thursday that she decided to hold the second hearing after
receiving a June 29 letter from Routh that did not arrive at the
courthouse until after that hearing. In that letter, Routh said he and
his attorneys were "a million miles apart" and that they were refusing
to answer his questions. He also wrote that he could be used in a
prisoner exchange with Iran, China, North Korea or Russia.
“I could die being of some use and save all this court mess, but no one
acts; perhaps you have the power to trade me away,” Routh wrote.
Cannon told Routh that she believed the federal public defenders
assigned to Routh's case were excellent attorneys.
“I find no basis to believe that there has been ineffective assistance
of counsel," Cannon said.
The judge also reminded Routh that she will not be able to assist Routh
or provide legal advice during the trial.
Cannon also briefly addressed Routh's suggestion of a prisoner exchange,
saying, “I have no power or any opinion of anything you've written
there."
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In this image released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's
Office, law enforcement officers arrest Ryan Wesley Routh, a man
suspected in an apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump,
Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
On Wednesday, the federal public defender's office filed a motion
for termination of appointment of counsel, saying “the
attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken.” Attorneys
said Routh has refused six attempts to meet with their team,
including a scheduled in-person meeting Tuesday morning at the
federal detention center in Miami.
“It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is
within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,” the motion
said.
Cannon denied their motion on Thursday, explaining that their office
was in the best position to prevent delays to the trial.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a
right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they
can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be
defended by an attorney.
Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for
weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played
golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret
Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials
said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing
Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said
informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then
flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was
arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen,
prosecutors have said.
Routh will have his first chance to represent himself on Friday
during a scheduled hearing on whether certain evidence and testimony
can be used at trial. His former attorneys are expected to be
present as standby counsel.
In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not
guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
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