Federal prosecutors have officially charged 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

The charges stem from a September 15 incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Routh was spotted by Secret Service agents with a rifle aimed at Trump.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has added several charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

These new charges come in addition to two previous federal gun charges.

The incident unfolded on September 15 while Trump was golfing at his West Palm Beach course.

Secret Service agents noticed the barrel of a rifle protruding from a bush along the perimeter of the golf course.

According to court documents, the weapon was identified just ahead of Trump’s location on the course.

A Secret Service agent, referred to in the indictment as “Secret Service Special Agent #1,” quickly responded, prompting Routh to flee the scene.

Following a brief search, Routh was arrested in Martin County, Florida. Authorities discovered an AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks containing ceramic plates, and a GoPro camera in the area where Routh had initially fled.

The backpacks were found to contain supplies that indicated premeditated planning, including the ceramic plates believed to serve as body armor.

In addition, cell phone data revealed that Routh had been monitoring Trump’s activities for over a month prior to the attempted assassination.

The data showed that Routh had been near Trump’s golf course and Mar-a-Lago estate multiple times, dating back to August 18.

The DOJ’s indictment claims that Routh “intentionally” attempted to assassinate Trump and also “forcibly assaulted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with” the Secret Service agent who discovered his presence.

Additionally, prosecutors charged Routh with possessing a firearm that had its serial number obliterated, making it difficult to trace.

The indictment further noted that Routh had been convicted of a previous felony, which prohibited him from legally owning a firearm.

Routh’s case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who previously presided over Trump’s classified documents case.

She will oversee the prosecution and has scheduled Routh’s arraignment for Monday.

Prosecutors have disclosed more details regarding Routh’s actions leading up to the assassination attempt.

In a memo found in his possession, Routh had compiled a list of venues where Trump had appeared or was expected to be, spanning dates from August to October.

The list indicates that Routh was deliberately tracking the former president’s movements.

The September 15 incident marked the culmination of Routh’s stalking efforts.

Prosecutors revealed that Routh had set up a sniper’s nest in the shrubbery outside the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.

When he fled the scene, law enforcement recovered several items in the tree line from which Routh had attempted to target Trump.

Among the items found were the loaded SKS-style 7.62×39 caliber rifle with a scope, two backpacks, a GoPro camera, and a black plastic bag containing food.

One of the backpacks contained ceramic plates that authorities believe could have been used as a shield or body armor.

The GoPro camera and other materials indicated that Routh had been preparing for the assassination attempt well in advance.

Routh’s arrest has drawn attention to the heightened security risks facing high-profile political figures, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

The Department of Justice’s charges against Routh are significant, and he now faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted on all counts.

The maximum penalties for the gun-related charges alone include up to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and up to five years for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The FBI, Secret Service, and local law enforcement worked together to apprehend Routh following the assassination attempt.

Prosecutors presented evidence in court showing that Routh had been closely monitoring Trump’s locations for weeks, waiting for the right moment to act.

Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the charges during a press conference, emphasizing the seriousness of the assassination attempt and the coordinated efforts of law enforcement in neutralizing the threat. “This was a clear attempt to assassinate a major political candidate, and it underscores the real and present dangers faced by those in public life,” Garland said.

Ryan Routh’s arraignment on the new charges will take place on Monday.

He is expected to face a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida.

As the case progresses, it is anticipated that prosecutors will seek the maximum penalties, given the gravity of the crime.

In a separate but related incident, Routh was also linked to an earlier stalking incident at Mar-a-Lago.

Prosecutors revealed that his presence in the area had been flagged multiple times since August, adding to concerns about the former president’s security.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sean Parnell. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.