A handwritten note by Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, has sent shockwaves across the nation.
The letter, addressed “To the World,” outlined Routh’s intent to kill Trump and was discovered months before his arrest on September 15.
Federal prosecutors revealed the disturbing details in a court filing.
DOJ Preparing Attempted-Assassination Charge
Federal prosecutors are preparing to bring more serious charges against Routh, including attempted assassination, which could carry a life sentence if convicted.
In a court hearing on September 23, the Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney Mark Dispoto confirmed that the government plans to present the case to a grand jury.
Routh is already facing federal weapons charges for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for having a gun with an obliterated serial number.
The chilling letter, written months before the September 15 assassination attempt, contained an alarming message.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” Routh wrote, urging others to “finish the job” and even offering a reward of $150,000 to anyone who could complete the task.
The Chilling Letter and Its Contents
The note was found in a box dropped off at an unnamed individual’s home. It wasn’t opened until after Routh’s arrest.
In addition to the letter, the box contained ammunition, a metal pipe, tools, and multiple cell phones.
Routh’s letter expressed harsh criticism of Trump’s leadership, especially regarding foreign policy. He condemned Trump’s approach to Iran, blaming the former president for destabilizing the Middle East.
“Everyone across the globe from the youngest to the oldest know that Trump is unfit to be anything, much less a US president,” Routh wrote in the letter, questioning Trump’s moral character.
The Assassination Attempt
Routh’s assassination attempt occurred at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On September 15, a Secret Service agent noticed the muzzle of a SKS semiautomatic rifle sticking out from the shrubbery along the 6th hole of the golf course.
Before Routh could fire, the agent opened fire, forcing the would-be assassin to flee the scene. Routh abandoned his rifle, backpacks, and a GoPro camera before escaping in an SUV. He was captured 40 minutes later on Interstate 95 in Martin County.
Court filings revealed that Routh had been stalking Trump’s movements for weeks, tracking the former president’s appearances at various venues in August, September, and October.
An FBI investigation of Routh’s belongings confirmed that he had been in proximity to Trump’s golf course several times in the lead-up to the attempted assassination.
Prosecutors Argue for Detention
Prosecutors successfully argued to keep Routh behind bars while awaiting trial, citing him as a flight risk.
The FBI’s analysis of his cellphones revealed a search for routes from West Palm Beach to Mexico, and his travel history indicated multiple trips between North Carolina and Florida in the months leading up to the attack.
Routh’s public defenders had requested that he be released on bail to live with his sister in North Carolina, where he would be monitored. However, the judge ruled that the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and denied bail.
A History of Troubling Behavior
Routh’s actions have drawn attention not only for the failed assassination attempt but also for his prior history.
He was convicted of a felony in 2002 and had been arrested multiple times before. Despite this, a 1991 report from the Greensboro News and Record highlighted Routh’s past as a “citizen of the year” for his efforts to apprehend a suspected rapist.
Federal officials also referenced Routh’s 2023 book, Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, in which he expressed regret over Trump’s presidency and went so far as to suggest that both he and Trump should be killed over the former president’s foreign policy failures.
Trump Criticizes DOJ and FBI Response
In a statement issued after the Sept. 23 court hearing, Trump lashed out at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI, accusing them of “mishandling and downplaying” the attempted assassination.
He called the initial charges against Routh a “slap on the wrist” and suggested that Florida authorities, who are considering attempted murder charges, would handle the case more effectively.
As the investigation continues, Routh’s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 30, when he is expected to enter a formal plea on the weapons charges.
Prosecutors are also preparing to go before a grand jury to formally charge Routh with attempted assassination.