A man accused of trying to assassinate elected president donald trump near West Palm Beach will not be tried until September 2025, a federal judge in Fort Pierce ruled this week.
Ryan Wesley RouthThe trial will begin on Sept. 8, 2025 instead of the previously scheduled start date of Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order released Monday.
Routh, 58, a resident of Hawaii, has pleaded not guilty.
Routh’s lawyers had asked the judge delay judgment until next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to mount an insanity defense.
Routh owned 17 cell phones and numerous other electronic devices, and hundreds of hours of police body camera and surveillance video have been provided to the defense, Routh’s attorneys argued during a hearing two weeks ago in Fort Pierce , Florida.
In his order, Cannon said he wanted to err on the side of providing more donor time gravity of the allegationsbut that starting the trial no earlier than December would be an excessive amount. A September trial date did not amount to an “unreasonable delay,” he said.
The judge said any insanity defense or any pleas related to Routh’s mental competency must be made by early February. Any visit to the site of the attempted murder must take place before the end of February.
Prosecutors say Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks beforehand pointing a rifle through the bushes as Trump played golf on September 15, 2024 at his West Palm Beach country club. Before Trump came into view, Routh was spotted by a Secret Service agent. Routh allegedly pointed his rifle at the officer, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop the weapon and flee without firing a shot. Prosecutors say he left behind a note outlining his intentions.
He was arrested a short time later driving on a nearby interstate.
Routh’s charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries a possible life sentence if convicted. Other charges include assault on a federal officer and three firearms charges. He is being held without bond at a federal prison in Miami.
Routh’s arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The The Secret Service acknowledged the mistakes that led to that shooting, but has said that security worked as it should have thwarted the potential attack in Florida.