On Monday afternoon, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service provided updates on the investigation into the attempted assassination of former President and Republican presidential candidate Trump that occurred on Sunday. The FBI focused on five aspects in the case investigation, stating that the clear attempt to assassinate Trump was “extremely serious”.
Following the announcement by authorities that suspect Ryan Wesley Routh has been charged with two crimes, including possessing a firearm during a felony and possessing a firearm with an erased serial number, Routh appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday morning. A detention hearing is scheduled for next Monday, and he will remain in custody.
Details about Routh have continued to emerge (please see “Failed Trump Assassination Attempt, Gunman Laid in Ambush Almost 12 Hours Early”).
Ronald Rowe Jr., acting director of the Secret Service, provided security level defenses for the former president on Monday following the second clear assassination attempt, raising new questions about the Secret Service’s ability to fully protect Trump.
Attorney General Merrick Garland promised in a statement on Monday to utilize “all available resources” to investigate this clear assassination attempt event.
Here are five key updates from the FBI and the Secret Service’s investigation:
The FBI stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the suspect acted with others.
Veltri stated that the FBI is still exploring whether Routh’s alleged plot to assassinate former President Trump was a solo act.
“Our investigation will determine this,” Veltri said at Monday’s press conference, “We currently have no information on him acting with others.”
Rowe stated that when the suspect Routh was apprehended by agents on Sunday, he did not see Trump, as Routh was facing the public side of the golf course fence.
“As President Trump crossed the fifth fairway, went across the golf course, out of sight of the sixth fairway, the agents monitoring the sixth fairway area saw the suspect holding what appeared to be a rifle and immediately fired,” he said.
Rowe continued, saying, “The suspect did not see the former president, so he fled the scene. He also did not fire at our agents.”
The Secret Service emphasized that the agents’ “swift” action and “high alertness” prevented the suspected gunman from seeing Trump.
“Our actions yesterday demonstrate this system is effective because the suspect didn’t even get a shot off, and we arrested him and brought him to justice,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw also stated at the press conference on Monday.
He mentioned that the suspect fled in a vehicle and was spotted by witnesses. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office later stopped the vehicle and detained the individual. The witnesses then identified the man as Routh.
Bradshaw added that Trump called him on Sunday night to “thank me and the Secret Service for everything we did”.
It is currently unclear how the suspect Routh knew Trump would be at the golf course.
Responding to reporters’ questions, Rowe said Trump’s appearance at his golf course over the weekend was kept secret. He mentioned that this trip was not on Trump’s schedule, “He wasn’t even supposed to be there”.
When asked if there were any indications that the suspect knew in advance that Trump would be there, he added, “Based on what I know at this point, and this is an active investigation, I have no information to provide on that.”
Rowe praised President Biden for ordering to “increase assets” to protect presidential candidates. He mentioned that these increased assets were in place yesterday, including snipers, counter-surveillance teams, drones, and counter-assault teams, and the agents’ high alertness and swift action were “textbook”.
Veltri stated that they are currently dealing with reports regarding Routh recruiting Afghan soldiers in Ukraine to fight against Russia.
“We are looking into media reports and (Routh’s) public statements where he expressed his desire to recruit Afghan soldiers and others to fight for Ukraine,” he said.
“FBI has issued multiple requests to several companies to submit the suspect’s phone and social media accounts.”
Veltri provided more details about the investigation, mentioning that investigators are “actively collaborating, seeking and subsequently executing search warrants”.
He said that so far, these searches have included seizing a video recorder, cellular devices, a vehicle, and other electronic devices.
Veltri also mentioned that there are “numerous interrogations” underway, including witnesses in Florida and friends and family of the suspect in Hawaii.
(References from BBC and CNN reports)