By Amber Jo Cooper
Florida’s Voice
Published Sep. 17, 2024, 9:47 a.m. ET | Updated Sep. 17, 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he has signed an executive order assigning the case involving the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump to the Office of Statewide prosecutor, under the supervision of Attorney General Ashley Moody.
“The suspect Ryan Routh, is believed of committed state law violations across multiple judicial circuits in the state: Palm Beach Judicial Circuit, the Judicial Circuit, including Martin County, as well as perhaps the Judicial Circuit represented by Broward County,” DeSantis said.
58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh appeared in federal court on Monday and is being charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (convicted felon) and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, according to the initial complaint. More charges are reportedly expected.
DeSantis said the state of Florida has jurisdiction “over the most serious, straightforward offense, which is attempted murder.”
The governor said he does not believe it is “in the best interest” of the state to have “the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump leading this investigation.”
DeSantis said the public deserves to know the “truth.” He said the results of the investigation will be made public.
The governor said as soon as he heard the news of the assassination attempt, he ordered FDLE to immediately “save the social media” accounts before the accounts were taken down.
DeSantis noted the suspect was “recruiting people” to go fight in Ukraine.
“This guy was in Ukraine. This guy was giving interviews to the New York Times. This guy was doing a lot of stuff – he’s got a rap sheet, he’s recruiting people to go fight there, he’s talking about Taiwan,,” DeSantis explained.
“Man, we need answers on this,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis went back and forth with a reporter over Florida seeking to file attempted murder charges against Trump assassination suspect versus the federal government.
He noted the federal government does “not have jurisdiction to bring an attempted murder charge.”
“We have the ability to pursue potentially life in prison under state law. […] They cannot pursue charges to the extent we can,” DeSantis said.
The governor said he spoke with President Trump, and he was in “good spirits.”
“He did remark that on that sixth hole, he was in pretty good shape for a potential birdie, and if you know the former president, that matters a lot to him,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said there will be more information “as the investigation unfolds.”
Moody called out President Joe Biden at the press conference.
“It was really disappointing to hear the President [Joe Biden] say that President Trump should be put in a bulls eye just days before we saw the first assassination attempt, and then weeks later, at the DNC, say that that threat was still very much alive, and now, again, in under 30 days, another assassination attempt,” Moody said.
Here is the clip Moody is referring to, which aired on NBC News:
According to the complaint obtained by Florida’s Voice, around 1:31 p.m. Sunday, a Secret Service Agent assigned to Trump’s detail was walking in the perimeter of Trump International when the agent saw “what appeared to be a rifle poking out of the tree line.”
The complaint said the agent “fired his/her weapon in the direction of the rifle” and a witness saw the suspect “fleeing the area of the tree line and entering a Nissan sport utility vehicle.”
Agents found “a digital camera, two bags including a backpack, a loaded SKS-style, 7.62×39 caliber rifle with a scope, and a black plastic bag containing food,” the document said.
The FBI agent who wrote the complaint said this type of gun is not manufactured in Florida.
Around, 2:14 p.m., the Martin County Sheriff’s Office located and initiated a motor vehicle stop.
The footage of the arrest of Routh was posted on the Martin County Sheriff’s Office website.
Routh is seen walking backwards, as instructed by police which is heard in the video. He was then put into handcuffs.
Routh was asked by police if he knew why he was being stopped and he “responded in the affirmative,” the complaint said.
The complaint noted the license plate attached to the car had been reported stolen.
A witness verified Routh as the same individual they saw entering the Nissan.
The complaint said records indicate Routh’s phone “was located in the vicinity of the area along the tree line described above from approximately 1:59 AM until approximately 1:31 PM, on September 15, 2024.”
In 2002, Routh was previously convicted of “possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction” in North Carolina, the complaint stated. In 2010, Routh was convicted of “multiple accounts of stolen goods.”
At a press conference on Monday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri said FBI agents attempted to interview Routh and he “invoked his right to an attorney.”
Veltri said authorities are working to execute search warrants include a video recording device, cellular device, a vehicle, and other electronic devices.
Routh had an “active online presence” and they are working through his posts and online searches, Veltri said.
“In addition, we’re going through media reports and public statements he made that he wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers and others to fight for Ukraine,” Veltri said.
A detention hearing for Routh is set for Sept. 23 at 10:00 a.m. and a preliminary arraignment is set for Sept. 30 at 10:00 a.m. in West Palm Beach Division court, records show.
Anyone with tips on this case is encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online here.
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