On Wednesday, federal prosecutors requested an indefinite delay in determining the trial date for the defendant accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 15. The reason cited was the need for further screening of a large amount of evidence.
58-year-old Ryan Routh appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assaulting federal agents, and carrying weapons.
Law enforcement officials allege that Routh, a roofing contractor, ambushed Trump with a rifle outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15 while the former president was playing golf.
They further accuse Routh of lying in wait near the fence surrounding the golf course with the intent to kill the Republican presidential candidate, but was spotted by a Secret Service agent who fired at him.
Routh reportedly fled the scene and was later arrested on a highway in Florida.
In documents submitted to Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, prosecutors stated that they still need to carefully examine evidence of a second attempted assassination of Trump within two months.
Prosecutors requested that Judge Cannon designate Routh’s case as “complex” to allow them more time for evidence screening.
According to the prosecutors, “over the past two weeks, hundreds of witnesses have been questioned, 13 search warrants have been executed in Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina, and hundreds of pieces of evidence, including multiple electronic devices, have been seized.”
They mentioned that more than a hundred subpoenas are yet to be delivered, and officials still need to review thousands of videos, still images, text documents, and audio files.
Prosecutors noted that the FBI is still conducting forensic tests on multiple pieces of evidence, including ballistics, fingerprint, and DNA matching.
Based on preliminary results of some tests, the government anticipates calling multiple expert witnesses to testify.
In their application to the court, prosecutors stated, “Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16, the government must disclose expert witness information sufficiently in advance of the trial for the Defendant to have a fair opportunity to understand the evidence possessed by the government.”
Prosecutors concluded the request by stating that due to the reactive nature of the indictment, the investigation is still ongoing.
Prosecutors anticipate interviewing additional witnesses, gathering more evidence, and obtaining further records through subpoenas and search warrants.
Therefore, the government requested the court to designate this case as complex to allow all parties ample time to thoroughly review the extensive evidence and determine which motions need to be filed.
Documents submitted to Judge Cannon indicate that prosecutors have consulted with Routh’s defense attorney, who does not oppose the government’s request for an indefinite delay in the trial date.
Authorities reported finding an AK-47-style rifle, a bag of snacks, a digital camera, and a bag containing metal plates near the sixth hole at the golf course where they discovered Routh. Allegedly, Routh had been hiding there on the day of the assassination attempt.
In another location, authorities found a handwritten letter purportedly given by Routh to someone a few months ago, referencing another attempted assassination of Trump.
Routh’s lawyer stated during a hearing on September 23 that this letter may have been written by Routh for self-promotion, without specifying the recipient, and pointed out Routh’s efforts to promote democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan.
The Florida shooting incident marks the second apparent assassination attempt Trump has faced in two months. In July, at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. One bullet hit Trump’s ear.
Law enforcement departments confirmed the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper immediately after firing.
This news was originally reported in English in The Epoch Times.