A man charged with the attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump last year will return to court Thursday. Ryan Routh, 59, seeks to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself.
Earlier this month, Routh made this request during a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. The judge delayed ruling and promised a written decision. However, Routh will now appear again after his federal public defenders asked to withdraw from the case.
Routh faces trial in September, exactly one year after he allegedly tried to shoot Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club. Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent stopped the attack. Routh pleaded not guilty to charges including the attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and firearm violations.
Despite his plans to represent himself, Judge Cannon said she won’t delay the trial’s September 8 start date. Routh told the court he understands the timeline and is prepared. He has two years of college after earning a GED.
In a June 29 letter to Cannon, Routh said he and his attorneys were “a million miles apart.” He claimed they refused to answer his questions. Additionally, he suggested he might be part of a prisoner exchange involving Iran, China, North Korea, or Russia. “I could die being of some use and save all this court mess, but no one acts,” he wrote.
On Wednesday, Routh’s federal defenders filed to end their representation. They said the attorney-client relationship broke down completely. The lawyers reported Routh missed six scheduled meetings, including one Tuesday at the Miami detention center.
The motion confirmed, “Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he has the Constitutional right to do so.” The U.S. Supreme Court supports a defendant’s right to self-representation if they can prove competency.
Prosecutors say Routh planned the attack for weeks. On September 15, he hid in the bushes and aimed a rifle at Trump. A Secret Service agent spotted him first. When Routh aimed at the agent, the agent fired. Routh dropped the weapon and ran without firing a shot.
Authorities arrested Routh after a witness saw a man fleeing the scene. Police flew the witness to a nearby highway where they caught Routh. The witness identified him as the fleeing man.
Routh faces a separate hearing Friday in Judge Cannon’s court. It will decide which evidence and testimony are allowed in trial. Besides federal charges, Routh also pleaded not guilty to state terrorism and attempted murder charges.
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