Latest news with #AileenCannon
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh can represent himself at trial, federal judge rules
The man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year was given clearance by a federal judge Thursday to represent himself in his upcoming trial. Ryan Routh, 59, appeared in front of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce a day after his court-appointed attorneys asked to be removed from the case. However, Cannon ruled that Routh's attorneys must remain on standby and denied their request to be withdrawn. "Mr. Routh has now refused six attempts from members of our office/the defense team to meet with Mr. Routh. As a result, undersigned counsel submits that the attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken. It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand," the lawyers wrote in a filing late Wednesday night. The lawyers added that they went to speak with Routh on Tuesday at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, but were informed that Routh didn't want to meet with them. Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer and multiple firearms violations for the Sept. 15, 2024 incident in Florida, the second attempted assassination plot against Trump in a matter of months. He has pleaded not guilty. Fox News Digital reported earlier this month that Routh wrote an unusual letter to the judge asking why the death penalty isn't on the table — and proposing that he be included in a prisoner swap with U.S. adversaries, even suggesting he be sent to freeze in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier. READ THE MOTION – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: "Why is the death penalty not allowed? At nearly 60, a life of nothingness without love — what is the point? Why is it not all or nothing?" Routh wrote in the letter on the case docket. "I had wished for a prisoner swap with Hamas, Iran... or China for Jimmy Lai or one of the 40 others, or to freeze to death in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier... so I could die being of some use and save all this court mess." He then sarcastically adds that the judge could send him away, which would give Trump a symbolic win. "Perhaps you [Judge Cannon] have the power to trade me away... An easy diplomatic victory for Trump to give an American he hates to China, Iran, or North Korea... everyone wins." Routh blasted his legal team, accusing them of ignoring his questions, refusing to write to him and undermining him. "It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me... I will be representing myself moving forward," Routh wrote. "They do not want the case and I no longer want to listen to how horrible a person I am — I can beat my own self up; I do not need help." "Best I walk alone."
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump returns to court and hopes to represent himself
A man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself. Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She did not rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case. Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations. The judge told Routh earlier this month that she doesn't intend to delay the Sept. 8 start date of his trial, even if she lets him represent himself. Routh, who has described the extent of his education as two years of college after earning his GED certificate, told Cannon that he understood and would be ready. In a June 29 letter to Cannon, Routh said that he and his attorneys were "a million miles apart" and that they were refusing to answer his questions. He also suggested in the same letter that he could be used in a prisoner exchange with Iran, China, North Korea or Russia. 'I could die being of some use and save all this court mess, but no one acts; perhaps you have the power to trade me away,' Routh wrote. On Wednesday, the federal public defender's office filed a motion for termination of appointment of counsel, claiming that 'the attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken.' Attorneys said Routh refused to meet with them for a scheduled in-person meeting Tuesday morning at the federal detention center in Miami. They said Routh has refused six attempts to meet with their team. 'It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,' the motion said. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh allegedly 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 prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said. Routh has another, unrelated hearing in Cannon's courtroom scheduled for Friday on the admissibility of certain evidence and testimony that can be used for the trial. In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump returns to court and hopes to represent himself
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself. Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She did not rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump wants to represent himself at trial
Ryan Routh, the man charged over attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last September, told a federal judge Thursday he wants to represent himself at trial. Prosecutors say Routh, 59, was in the brush with a rifle as Trump played golf at his Florida club on September 15, 2024. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Authorities say Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing him to flee. The suspect did not fire a single shot. Routh told District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday he wanted to fire his court-appointed defense team. Cannon was separately the judge who dismissed Trump's classified documents case. When Cannon asked Routh whether he wanted her to appoint new defense attorneys, he said, 'No. I will represent myself.' Cannon then closed the courtroom to reporters and the public for about an hour to discuss matters potentially involving attorney-client privilege. The hearing was scheduled to continue Thursday afternoon. In a letter to the court filed Friday, Routh told Cannon, 'It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me. That was foolish and ignorant, and I am sorry-a childish mistake.' Routh claimed his lawyers 'refuse to answer my questions' and are 'ignoring all I say.' 'They do not want the case and I no longer want to listen to what a horrible a person I am- I can beat my own self-up,' he added. The Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Prosecutors say Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before the assassination attempt. Police obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed officers he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors say. The assassination attempt came months after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks grazed Trump's ear with a bullet during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Crooks was shot dead by a SWAT team sniper at the rally. Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh also faces state charges of terrorism and attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. The suspect's son, Oran Routh, previously told the Daily Mail his father does hate Trump as 'every reasonable person does,' but insisted he wasn't violent. The suspect's federal trial is scheduled for September. If convicted, he could face a sentence of life in prison, according to federal officials.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump wants to represent himself in Florida federal case
A man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course told a federal judge Thursday he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself, saying he will be ready to defend himself before a trial jury this fall. Ryan Routh made his request during a hearing in Fort Pierce before US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. When the judge asked Routh, 59, whether he wanted her to appoint new attorneys to defend him, Routh replied: 'No. I will represent myself.' Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations. Cannon closed the courtroom to reporters and the public for about an hour Thursday to discuss matters potentially involving attorney-client privilege. The public portion of the hearing resumed with Cannon questioning Routh for about 30 minutes on whether he understands the gravity of defending himself in a case where he could face life imprisonment if convicted. 'Do you understand that self-representation is almost always a bad idea?' the judge asked Routh. 'Yes, your honor,' replied Routh, who described the extent of his education as two years of college after earning his GED certificate. Cannon also asked Routh if he understood the court's rules of evidence and federal criminal procedure. He told her: 'I have a book.' Cannon did not rule during the hearing. She said she would issue a written order later. The US Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. The judge told Routh she doesn't intend to delay the Sept. 8 start date of his trial, even if she lets him represent himself. Routh told her that he understood and would be ready. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh allegedly 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 prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said. In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
