The scheduled trial for Ryan Wesley Routh, the man implicated in an alleged assassination attempt on then-President-elect Donald Trump, has been postponed by a federal judge. Originally set for February 2025, the trial will now commence on September 8, 2025.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who sits in the U.S. District Court in Fort Pierce, Florida, made this decision public earlier this week. Routh, a 58-year-old resident of Hawaii, has maintained his innocence and entered a plea of not guilty.
Routh’s legal team had previously requested that the trial be postponed until at least December of next year, citing the need for additional time to review the substantial amount of evidence and consider the possibility of an insanity defense. Routh’s extensive digital footprint, including 17 cellphones and various other electronic devices, as well as hundreds of hours of police body cam and surveillance footage, were presented to the defense.
Given the gravity of the charges, Judge Cannon opted to grant more time for preparation. However, she dismissed the proposed December start date as being excessively far off, settling instead on a September start date, which she deemed a more reasonable timeframe.
In the order, Judge Cannon specified that any potential insanity defense or requests related to Routh’s mental competence must be submitted by early February. Additionally, any required visits to the alleged assassination site must be completed by the end of February.
Accusations against Routh claim he meticulously planned to assassinate Trump while he was golfing at his West Palm Beach country club on September 15, 2024. Secret Service agents intervened before any shots were fired. Following a brief confrontation, during which he reportedly aimed his rifle at a Secret Service agent, Routh dropped his weapon and fled the scene, leaving behind a note revealing his intentions. He was apprehended shortly thereafter on a nearby interstate.
Routh faces a life sentence if found guilty of the attempted assassination of a significant presidential candidate. Other charges include assaulting a federal officer and three counts related to firearms. He remains in custody without bail at the federal jail in Miami.
Routh’s arrest followed a previous assassination attempt on Trump just two months prior, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot and injured in the ear. The Secret Service has acknowledged shortcomings in their procedures leading up to the Pennsylvania incident but have claimed that their security measures effectively prevented the potential attack in Florida.
