A man accused of trying to kill President Trump in his Florida Golf Club last September can hire an expert to examine the rifle recovered from the scene, but only to determine his operability, a federal judge said on Tuesday.
Ryan Routh’s lawyers had asked their expert to be allowed to inspect, photograph and test the rifle to evaluate the findings of an expert in the government, as well as try it to obtain other information that they thought it was relevant. In Tuesday, the district judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated by Trump, limited the evidence to only his operability, with a deadline of May 15.
Routh, who declared himself innocent, was accused of attempted murder of a presidential candidate and two positions of firearms. Your federal judgment is scheduled for September, and is It is expected to face Additional state charges.
Prosecutors say that Routh Methodicular drew to kill Mr. Trump, then a presidential candidate, for a week before aiming a rifle through the bush when Trump played the golf on September 15, 2024 in his West Palm Beach Country Club. Before the president appeared, Routh was seen by an agent of the Secret Service. Routh allegedly pointed to his rifle to the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to leave his gun and run away without shooting. Prosecutors say that he left a note that described his intentions. He was arrested a short time later leading in a nearby interest.
Federal prosecutors Alleged last week Routh also tried to buy an online anti -aircraft weapon to tear down Mr. Trump’s plane. “I need a team so that Trump cannot be chosen,” Routh allegedly told an associate of whom he hoped to buy the weapon.
Meanwhile. Routh lawyers He asked the judge Last week to suppress the statements of the witness that identified Routh. The lawyers argued that the police was “inadmissible” when interrogating the witness, whom they said was shown a single photograph of Routh.