Defense attorneys representing Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, conducted a secretive tour of the former president's West Palm Beach golf course.
According to Daily Mail, the defense team's February 25 visit to Trump International Golf Club, where prosecutors say Routh aimed a rifle at Trump from behind shrubbery last September, was described as "highly unusual" in newly revealed court documents.
The unprecedented access granted to Routh's lawyers comes as they prepare for his federal trial this September. Federal authorities claim Routh targeted Trump during a golf outing on September 15, 2024, but was thwarted when a Secret Service agent spotted him and opened fire, causing him to flee without shooting.
Suspicious FBI delays spark Trump's concerns
Trump has publicly questioned the FBI's delayed release of investigative findings from two near-fatal assassination attempts in 2024. Speaking from the Resolute Desk last week, he revealed new details about Routh's possession of "six cell phones" and "three apps, two of which were foreign."
The Justice Department made extraordinary accommodations for the defense team's requests. They arranged the transport of evidence, including the alleged assassination rifle, scope, magazine, ammunition, and antiballistic plates from the FBI's Quantico lab to South Florida for inspection.
Prosecutors acknowledged the exceptional nature of these arrangements in court filings. They took charge of coordinating the golf course visit despite not controlling the private property.
Complex family connections emerge in investigation
The case took an unexpected turn when federal agents searched the home of Routh's son, Oran Routh, in North Carolina. The search, conducted six days after the assassination attempt, uncovered hundreds of images of child pornography across multiple devices.
While prosecutors initially maintained the search was unrelated to the assassination attempt, they later confirmed that correspondence between father and son is now part of the federal case evidence. This development suggests potential connections between the two investigations.
Oran Routh has since pleaded guilty to charges related to the discovered images. He awaits sentencing on May 14, while his father remains in federal custody.
Growing pattern of presidential security threats
The Routh incident represents one of two serious threats to Trump's life in 2024. The other attempt occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents after attempting to shoot Trump.
Trump expressed skepticism about both investigations during his recent address. He hinted at possible hidden forces at work, though he stepped back from earlier suggestions about releasing the FBI reports himself.
The FBI has not provided detailed updates on either case since their initial briefings in August and September 2024. This prolonged silence has fueled speculation about potential broader implications.
Moving forward with unprecedented security measures
The defense team's rare access to Trump's golf course and evidence marks a significant development in the preparation for Routh's September trial. If convicted, he faces potential life imprisonment for the attempted assassination of the former president during a campaign golf outing.
The case continues to evolve as investigators examine connections between Routh's actions and his son's legal troubles. Meanwhile, Trump's security team maintains heightened vigilance following the two assassination attempts, with the FBI's comprehensive reports still pending release.
