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Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to
assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal
officer and several firearm violations.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had initially blocked off more
than three weeks for the trial, but it could end sooner:
Prosecutors said they should be able to rest their case by
Thursday, and Routh’s witnesses have been subpoenaed to appear
by Friday.
The day's first witness testified about items collected from a
black SUV that Routh had been driving and living in for several
weeks before the attempted attack, according to local news
outlets.
The FBI agent said the evidence recovered included six
cellphones, three license plates, a bullet casing and notes on
flights to Mexico and Colombia.
Later, an FBI analyst testified that Routh's fingerprint was
found on the scope of the SKS rifle found just outside the golf
course. A weapons expert confirmed that the gun was in working
order.
Routh, who is representing himself, has conducted relatively
brief cross-examinations of the government witnesses.
Routh has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert, as
well as several character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he
plans to testify himself.
Recounting the incident at the Trump International Golf Club, a
Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh
before Trump came into view. 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 testified that
he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The
witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby
interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses said he
confirmed it was the person he had seen.
Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived an attempt on his
life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired
eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being
fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
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