A man convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of Trump’s Florida golf courses during the 2024 presidential campaign was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to life in prison.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon imposed the sentence on Ryan Routh, who represented himself at his trial last September in Fort Pierce, Florida. The life term is the maximum penalty for attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate. He also received a mandatory additional seven years for a firearm offense.
Prosecutors had urged the court to impose life in prison, arguing in a sentencing memo last month that Routh had “plotted painstakingly” to kill Trump. They said he later aimed a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at Trump’s West Palm Beach country club. Prosecutors also told the court that Routh had shown no remorse.
Martin Roth, an attorney brought in to represent Routh for sentencing, asked the judge to depart from the federal sentencing guidelines and instead impose a 27-year sentence, citing Routh’s age. Roth argued that such a term would amount to significant punishment. After sentencing, Roth told reporters outside the courthouse that he planned to appeal.
Routh, a contractor originally from North Carolina, appeared Wednesday in the same courtroom where he tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen after a jury found him guilty on all counts, according to The Associated Press.
During the trial, a Secret Service agent assigned to protect Trump on the golf course testified that he spotted Routh hiding in the shrubbery. Prosecutors said Routh was waiting for Trump to move into his line of fire. Authorities alleged Routh then aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire—prompting Routh to flee in his car. He was arrested shortly afterward.
Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all counts.
