AFPTV / AFP via getty imagesOn Monday, the trial for a man accused of having plotted to assassinate US President Donald Trump last September in Florida.
The incident – which occurred only a few weeks after a ball collapsed Trump’s ear in another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania – also stressed the issue of political violence in the months preceding the 2024 elections.
The two incidents caused a meticulous examination of American secret services and its ability to protect candidates for the high -level presidential election like Trump.
The suspect at the heart of this case, Ryan Wesley Routh, will be represented in what could become an unorthodox trial. He pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Routh, 59, is from North Carolina, but lived in Hawaii before the alleged attempted assassination. He has previous criminal history and was a vocal supporter of Ukraine in his current war against Russia.
Here’s what you need to know about the case.
What would Roth have done?
The incident occurred on September 15, 2024, while Trump campaigned to take over the White House.
According to court documents, he golfing in his club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when an American secret service agent spotted a man’s face in the bushes at the perimeter of the property. The man was then identified as Mr. Routh.
Mr. Routh shot the agent, according to federal prosecutors, and was seen by a witness who crosses the road to a black Nissan Xterra. Local police were apprehended later on the Interstate 95.
Trump was playing golf at the time, but had not come into contact with Mr. Routh.
FBI agents found a semi-automatic SKS rifle with a wide range and magazine in the region where Mr. Routh was hidden.
They also found documents with a list of events in which Trump had appeared, or had to appear, in the coming months. According to the police, another witness said that Mr. Routh had left a box at his home in the months before, there was a note, reading in part: “It was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am really sorry to have failed you.”
What accusations are they confronted with?
The government accused Mr. Routh attempted the assassination of a presidential candidate, having a firearm in favor of a crime of violence, attacing a federal officer, being a criminal in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an erased serial number.
Mr. Routh pleaded not guilty of the accusations last year. He was detained in prison in Florida pending trial.
When is the trial?
The trial of Mr. Routh began on Monday September 8 in a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida. The procedure began with the selection of the jury, before going to openness, expected on Thursday.
The trial will take place in the same federal courthouse where Trump faced charges for having pretended to keep classified documents from his first mandate in the White House. This case finally ended after Trump was re -elected.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who supervised the Trump affair and finally rejected it, will also chair Mr. Routh’s trial. Trump appointed Cannon judge on the federal bench during his first mandate.
Why does Roth defend himself?
Mr. Routh made the unusual decision to stand up at the trial.
In a letter in the court, he said that he was “ridiculous from the start to consider a random unknown who knows nothing about who I must speak for me”.
He also said that he and his lawyers were “a million kilometers from the other” and that they did not answer his questions.
The Cannon judge will allow Roth to represent himself, but said to him: “I highly urge you not to make this decision.”
She indicated that having a lawyer would be “much better” and ordered the legal advisor appointed by the court to remain on hold.
