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 [rocket propelled grenade] or stinger and I will see what we can do… [Trump] 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
“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.”
“[G]oing to the local store for such an item is impossible – however you are at war so those items lost and destroyed daily – one missing would not be noticed. Do you think Trump will be good for Ukraine?????” Routh allegedly messaged his associate.
Additionally, Routh conducted some level of surveillance of the nearby Palm Beach International Airport and tracked the movements of Trump’s plane in hopes of being able to assassinate the president, the DOJ alleges in its filing.
Routh has been charged for allegedly trying to assassinate Trump on Sept. 15, 2024, approximately two months after a different would-be assassin nearly killed Trump onstage at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. While much about Routh remains unclear or unknown, available evidence indicates that he was extremely zealous about the Ukrainian cause in its ongoing war against Russia, even going so far as attempting to recruit volunteers to go join the fight.
On the day of the attempted assassination, Routh allegedly managed to hide with a rifle in the bushes along the perimeter of the golf course at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh was allegedly lying in wait for a clear shot at Trump when he was discovered by Secret Service agents, fleeing the scene before being apprehended shortly afterwards.
Routh was formally charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number on Sept. 24, 2024. His trial is expected to begin in September 2025, according to WBPF.
A defense attorney for Routh did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
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