This Friday, witnesses from both the FBI and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office took the stand to lay out the law enforcement’s actions and evidence collection in the trial of a man who reportedly tried to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was golfing in South Florida last year.
One FBI agent introduced a detailed 3D model of the golf course, pinpointing the sniper’s nest at approximately 125 feet (about 38 meters) from the 6th hole. Another agent recounted the evidence gathered, which included an SKS semi-automatic rifle loaded with a round, extra ammo, ballistic plates, and even some cans of Vienna sausages. A deputy also testified about the thorough sweep for explosives in the area, but fortunately, no explosives were detected.
This was the second day of court proceedings, following a day when the opening statements were abruptly cut short—though the federal prosecution made good use of their allotted 40 minutes, the presiding U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ultimately deemed that defendant Ryan Routh, who is representing himself, had forfeited his chance for an opening statement due to his failure to stay on topic.
Although the trial was initially expected to extend for two or three weeks, this might change, given Routh’s cross-examinations have been fairly succinct. He has signaled plans to assess a firearms expert and several character witnesses. Whether Routh himself will take the stand remains uncertain.
Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, shared insight on the routes Routh could take if he opts to testify. The format used during his testimony would be concerns for the presiding judge, who can let or restrict how he takes the stand.
“Should Routh choose to testify, he cannot be denied that right,” Jarvis expressed.
The most typical route involves the defendant sharing his story directly with the jury. There’s a less common scene in which he would mull over self-posed questions. The rarest truthfully would be allowing jurors to field their own inquiries, yet Jarvis noted such instances are incredibly rare.
Regardless of how it unfolds, prosecutors will have their opportunity to cross-examine Routh after he gets to testify.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to serious charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and several firearm offenses.
According to prosecutors, Routh, at 59, meticulously plotted how to kill Trump beforehand, managing to aim a rifle through the vegetation while Trump played golf on September 15, 2024, at his country club in West Palm Beach. Special agents identified Routh before Trump came into view, and officials revealed Routh aimed his weapon at one of the agents, who then returned fire—causing Routh to drop his rifle and escape without firing a shot.
Interestingly, just nine weeks earlier, Trump narrowly escaped another life-threatening incident while campaigning in Pennsylvania, where a gunman fired eight shots, with one bullet barely missing Trump’s ear before a counter-sniper from the Secret Service eliminated him.
