(NewsNation) — Federal prosecutors continued introducing witnesses and evidence Wednesday in the trial of Ryan Routh, the 59-year-old accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump last year at the president’s West Palm Florida golf course.
During the fifth day of testimony, an acquaintance told jurors he sold Routh the rifle that allegedly was to be used in the killing. The witness said Routh claimed the weapon was for his son, who was being bullied, and that Routh came across as arrogant and threatening.
Federal prosecutors have sought to lay out the case that Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Ryan Routh faces trial for Trump assassination plot: What to know
Ryan Routh represents himself at trial
Routh is acting as his own defense attorney and has exhibited erratic behavior throughout the proceedings. Tuesday, as Routh interviewed a government witness, the defendant was dancing and snapping his fingers. Wednesday, he was admonished by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon after saying he didn’t trust one of the witnesses.
Cannon approved Routh’s request to represent himself, with conditions. The judge said Routh must be dressed in professional business attire during trial and cannot roam around the courtroom.
Routh insisted on acting as his own attorney after a series of rifts with public defenders. Routh told the court he completed two years of college after earning his GED certificate.
In testimony Tuesday, jurors heard evidence that Routh had sent text messages calling Trump an “idiot,” one who “needs to go away.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
