U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has ordered that the trial for Ryan Wesley Routh, the second individual who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, must begin in November.
The federal magistrate for the Southern District of Florida issued her order on Oct. 1. According to her ruling, Routh's trial will begin on Nov. 18 – almost two weeks after Election Day on Nov. 5 – at the federal courthouse in Florida's Fort Pierce. Given the trial date, she ordered that all motions in the case must be filed before Oct. 18.
The Colombian-born Cannon, who Trump appointed to the bench in November 2020, previously oversaw the federal classified documents case against the former president. In July, she dismissed the case and concurred with arguments that the Department of Justice (DOJ) unlawfully appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to bring the case against Trump. Smith has since appealed her ruling, according to the Epoch Times. (Related: Judge dismisses Trump's classified documents case, special counsel's appointment ruled unconstitutional.)
Cannon's Oct. 1 order came a day after the 58-year-old Routh pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. He issued the not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Sept. 30. Incidentally, Reinhart is also tied to Trump as he was the judge who approved the Federal Bureau of Investigation's search warrant for the August 2022 raid at Mar-a-Lago.
Routh was initially charged with one gun-related offense in a criminal complaint, but prosecutors filed additional charges against him. He was later indicted on five charges: attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, having a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime or violence and assaulting a federal officer.
According to the DOJ, Routh could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted. Last month, a judge ordered him to remain in custody without bond to await trial, citing potential flight risk.
Routh had an obsession with killing Trump
The Epoch Times said federal officials and prosecutors have not disclosed a motive as to why Routh attempted to kill Trump on Sept. 15. However, the handwritten note he allegedly left with another individual months before the assassination attempt suggests that Routh's anger centers on Trump's dealings with Tehran during the latter's stint as chief executive.
"This was an assassination attempt against Trump, but I failed you," the would-be shooter allegedly wrote. He later added that the former president "ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unraveled." Routh's remark possibly pertained to the Trump administration's 2018 decision to withdraw Washington from the Iran nuclear deal.
He echoed this opposition to Trump in a book he self-published last year. "I must take part of the blame for the retarded child that we elected for our next president that ended up being brainless," Routh wrote. "But I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake – and Iran, I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment."
The book also outlined Routh's anticipation of World War III and his desire to "burn down" the Kremlin, the Russian seat of government.
"I do dream of the day that we cross over into Russia and march towards Moscow. That is the part of this third world war that I look forward to," he wrote. "I want to be the one that burns down the Kremlin and all the cruelty that it signifies."
Routh's social media history also echoed his support of Kyiv, with his posts often having a pro-Ukraine stance. He also expressed criticism of Trump, including after the first assassination attempt against him on July 13.
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Watch this Fox News report about Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly "staring" at the press during his Sept. 30 court appearance, where he pleaded not guilty.
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Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump faces 20 years in prison.
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