Would-Be Assassin Wanted Rocket Launcher To Shoot Down Trump’s Plane, DOJ Alleges
Ryan Routh, the man alleged to have attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump in 2024, sought to acquire rockets from a supposed Ukrainian associate to use in an attack against Trump, according to a Monday…
Ryan Routh, the man alleged to have attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump in 2024, sought to acquire rockets from a supposed Ukrainian associate to use in an attack against Trump, according to a Monday legal filing from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ alleges that Routh attempted to purchase anti-aircraft weaponry in August 2024 as he was plotting to kill Trump, contacting an individual he believed to be a Ukrainian with access to high-grade weaponry. Routh allegedly wanted to use the weaponry to target Trump’s personal plane — which often had numerous other people on board when in use during the campaign — because the would-be assassin considered the prospect of a Trump victory to be a negative outcome for Ukraine.
Using encrypted messages, Routh allegedly instructed the individual to “send me an rpg or stinger and I will see what we can do… is not good for Ukraine,” according to the DOJ’s filing. Routh also allegedly inquired whether his contact could potentially ship him the weaponry.
Routh DOJ Filing by Nick Pope on Scribd
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“I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected,” Routh allegedly wrote to his contact, according to the DOJ. Routh also allegedly sent a picture of Trump’s personal plane to his associate, stating that “he gets on and off daily.”