FORT PIERCE, Fla., (NewsNation) — The trial for the man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida last year entered its second week Monday.
Ryan Routh, who is representing himself in the trial, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Prosecutors have said Routh, 59, plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf at his West Palm Beach country club.
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Witnesses from the FBI and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Friday offered details on the law enforcement response and evidence collection during the trial of a man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year.
One FBI agent presented a 3D computer model of the golf course that showed the so-called sniper’s nest was about 125 feet (38 meters) from the 6th hole, according to local news outlets. Another agent described the collection of evidence, which included an SKS semi-automatic rifle with a round chambered, extra ammunition, metal ballistic plates and cans of Vienna sausages. A Palm Beach deputy testified that the area was swept for explosives, but none were found.
The case was previously expected to run two or three weeks, but that timeline could be shortened as Routh’s cross-examination of prosecution witnesses has been relatively brief. Meanwhile, Routh has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert, as well as several character witnesses. Routh hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.
