The state of Florida has charged the man suspected of plotting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course with attempted murder over a car crash that occurred as he was apprehended by law enforcement.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Wednesday that Ryan Routh was being charged with attempted murder over an car accident that occurred on Interstate 95 as he tried to evade law enforcement after he was spotted with a firearm near Trump’s golf course, allegedly with the intent of killing the then-presidential candidate. Law enforcement said Routh fled after being confronted by a Secret Service agent he shot at him. The interstate had been closed during the pursuit, and a 6-year-old girl was severely injured in the crash. Moody said Routh was at fault.
“When Routh fled the scene and drove north into Martin County, it foreseeably caused law enforcement to shut down Interstate 95 to preserve the life and safety of others,” the affidavit says. “Routh’s actions were the cause of a horrific car crash that severely injured the minor child, Routh’s intentional act of escaping the scene of his attempted act of terrorism could have easily resulted in the death of [the child], but fortunately did not.”
The affidavit revealed that the young child was still in the hospital due to the life-threatening injuries she received when the vehicle she was in was rear-ended.
“Despite the federal government frustrating our efforts, which we continue to challenge in court, we found that Mr. Routh’s actions caused catastrophic injuries to a six-year-old girl,” Moody said. “My heart breaks for the child and her family, and while we continue to seek justice for President Trump, we will fight just as hard to ensure Mr. Routh pays for the tragedy his criminal actions brought on this Florida family.”
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The charges were brought as part of Florida’s investigation into the attempt on Trump’s life in Florida. Moody and Governor Ron DeSantis (R) have accused federal authorities of impeding their investigation.
“The federal government has stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate Attorney General Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance,” DeSantis said Wednesday. “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.”
The trial for Routh is slated to begin in February, and he has pled not guilty to the charges of attempting to kill Trump.
