The man accused of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump has been hit with another charge tied to him attempting to flee the scene.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday that Ryan Routh is now facing an attempted felony murder charge. The charge stems from Routh fleeing the scene at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach as Trump was golfing and Routh allegedly laid in wait for an opportunity to shoot Trump on Sept. 15, Fox News reported.
When Routh left the scene, he traveled north on I-95 and traffic was shut down in both directions so authorities could take him into custody.
However, a traffic accident resulted in a 6-year-old girl being injured.
Moody expounded on a “lack of cooperation and support from federal agents” investigating the incident.
“We immediately reached out and began communicating with our federal partners,” Moody said. “As soon as we began those overtures, we immediately were confronted with a lack of willingness to allow us access to the crime scene, an unwillingness to provide evidence that was collected, an unwillingness to allow us to accompany witness interviews, and the list goes on and on.”
Routh has pleaded not guilty to five counts, including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer.
The defense attorneys are considering an insanity defense.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) concurred with Moody, saying federal officials have been difficult to work with on the matter.
“The feds have stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance,” DeSantis wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed. The would-be assassin needs to face the full force of justice and the people deserve the truth about the defendant’s history, motivations and plan.”
Routh, still in federal custody, is expected to head to trial Feb. 10.
