FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh, the man convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, created chaos in a Florida courtroom when he attempted to stab himself with a pen immediately following his guilty verdict on multiple counts. Law enforcement quickly intervened and removed him from the scene.
Routh, 59, was found guilty after a jury deliberated for just two hours. After the verdict, he grabbed a pen and tried to inflict harm upon himself, prompting his daughter, Sara Routh, to cry out, 'Dad, I love you, don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody.' Routh's support from his daughter contrasted sharply with the legal proceedings he faced.
Charged with attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, along with several firearm-related offenses, Routh argued in court that he did not intend to kill anyone that day. He had spent weeks planning the assassination, aiming a rifle at Trump as he played golf in September 2024. Despite his defense, the jury did not find his reasoning compelling and delivered a unanimous guilty verdict.
Routh represented himself during the trial and rested his case with only three witnesses, contrasting sharply with the prosecution, which called 38. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the significance of the ruling, highlighting the seriousness of political violence in America. Amidst the courtroom drama, Routh's mental state became a point of focus, illustrating the complexities involved in high-profile criminal cases.
Routh, 59, was found guilty after a jury deliberated for just two hours. After the verdict, he grabbed a pen and tried to inflict harm upon himself, prompting his daughter, Sara Routh, to cry out, 'Dad, I love you, don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody.' Routh's support from his daughter contrasted sharply with the legal proceedings he faced.
Charged with attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, along with several firearm-related offenses, Routh argued in court that he did not intend to kill anyone that day. He had spent weeks planning the assassination, aiming a rifle at Trump as he played golf in September 2024. Despite his defense, the jury did not find his reasoning compelling and delivered a unanimous guilty verdict.
Routh represented himself during the trial and rested his case with only three witnesses, contrasting sharply with the prosecution, which called 38. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the significance of the ruling, highlighting the seriousness of political violence in America. Amidst the courtroom drama, Routh's mental state became a point of focus, illustrating the complexities involved in high-profile criminal cases.
