Daily Caller News Foundation

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Ryan Routh began cross-examination Thursday by asking the Secret Service agent who allegedly discovered him hiding in the bushes at President Donald Trump’s Florida golf course if it’s good to ā€œbe alive.ā€

Secret Service agent Robert Fercano, who earlier told federal prosecutors how he feared for his own life and Trump’s life after spotting Routh’s firearm, answered in the affirmative.

ā€œRide on,ā€ Routh replied, asking next if Fercano saw any ā€œirregularitiesā€ in the fence line on Sept. 15, 2024.

ā€œI had noticed yourself in the fence line,ā€ the agent said.

Fercano appeared tense at times as the cross-examination continued, answering questions with a pointed ā€œyouā€ as Routh referred to himself as the ā€œdefendant.ā€ Several times, Fercano emphasized that there was a ā€œbarrel of a gun pointedā€ at his face.

Routh inquired about the best position for a sniper, the height of the bulletproof plates positioned on the fence and whether the ā€œdefendantā€ could have pulled his gun out of the fence.

ā€œI don’t know your mindset,ā€ the agent replied.

Advertisement

Routh pressed if there was any harm that came that day. Fercano said there was no physical harm.

ā€œMentally, I have to live with the fact that this individual pointed a weapon at my face,ā€ Fercano said.

Fercano earlier told prosecutors that he did not initially think there was a threat, believing the face he spotted in the bushes could be a ā€œhomeless person camping out.ā€ Routh smiled at Fercano that day when he initially called out, ā€œhey, sir,ā€ the agent testified.

After dismounting his golf cart and coming within five feet of Routh, Fercano realized the object protruding from the fence was a weapon.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactĀ [email protected].