Donald Trump assassination plotter tries to stab himself in court (Picture credit: AP)
Ryan Routh, the man found guilty of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump, attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen moments after a Florida jury convicted him on all counts. The dramatic incident unfolded in Judge Aileen Cannon’s courtroom on Tuesday, leaving US Marshals swarming and dragging him out.According to ABC News, the 59-year-old lunged at his throat with a security-approved pen designed to prevent serious injury. He suffered only bruises and marks before being restrained by four armed officers and removed from the courtroom. His daughter, Sara, shouted, “Dad, I love you. Don’t do anything. I will get you out,” before being escorted out herself for calling the proceedings “rigged.””He didn’t hurt anybody. This is not fair. This is all rigged. You guys are a******s”, she shouted.Routh was brought back into court in shackles and told by Judge Cannon that his sentencing would go ahead on December 18. He now faces life imprisonment.Earlier, jurors had deliberated for just two hours before convicting Routh on charges linked to his plan to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in 2024. Prosecutors said he had invested thousands of dollars in weapons and made repeated trips to a sniper’s perch near the sixth green, amassing over 90 hours of surveillance. Assistant US Attorney Christopher Browne told the jury, “There is no doubt — reasonable or otherwise — the defendant intended to kill Donald Trump.”As per CNN, jurors had reviewed the rifle, ammunition, and magazine linked to Routh before reaching their verdict. Despite representing himself, Routh argued he never intended to fire.During his own 55-minute closing argument, Routh insisted he lacked the capacity to kill. “The prime opportunity was there for the defendant to shoot the president. Why was the trigger not pulled?” he told jurors, comparing his supposed plan to an unattainable fantasy. He argued that his rifle was never brandished to shoot Trump or the Secret Service agent who spotted him, dismissing prosecution evidence as “a blatant fabrication.”However, prosecutors countered that Routh had researched Trump’s movements, acquired military-grade equipment, and even texted his children hours before the planned attack. One FBI witness detailed phone records, Google searches for rallies and traffic cameras, and preparations for a getaway, including searches for flights to Mexico, as per CNN.Routh was arrested on Interstate 95 after fleeing the course, following a tip from a witness who saw him leave the area.
