Ryan Wesley Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, seeks to postpone his trial, citing the need for more time to review extensive evidence.
At a Glance
- Routh faces charges of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump and related offenses
- Defense attorneys request trial delay from February to December 2025
- Prosecutors agree to a modest delay but oppose extending to December 2025
- Evidence includes data from multiple devices, surveillance footage, and expert analyses
- Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled a hearing to discuss the trial delay request
Charges and Trial Delay Request
Ryan Wesley Routh, charged with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, has requested a postponement of his trial. Currently scheduled for February 2025 in Florida’s U.S. District Court, Routh’s defense team is seeking to delay the proceedings until December 2025. The charges against Routh include attempting to assassinate a political candidate and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number as a convicted felon.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorneys argue that the current trial schedule could compromise due process protections and potentially result in a miscarriage of justice. The prosecution, while open to a reasonable delay, opposes extending the trial as far as December 2025.
Federal prosecutors requested an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on Trump last month, citing a massive amount of evidence they've gathered since Ryan Routh's arrest. https://t.co/WYlsifY7Br
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 2, 2024
Extensive Evidence and Discovery Challenges
The defense’s request for a trial delay stems from the vast amount of evidence that needs to be reviewed. Discovery materials in the case are extensive, including data from multiple electronic devices, surveillance footage, and expert analyses. According to Routh’s attorneys, the evidence includes data from 18 phones, three computers, three tablets, five storage disks, expert analyses, phone records, and approximately 3,000 photographs.
“The discovery in this case is expansive” – Militello and Sihvola
The defense claims that reviewing this voluminous evidence, which spans several terabytes of data and involves over nine expert witnesses, will require considerable time. They argue that proceeding with the trial as scheduled would not allow for adequate preparation and could jeopardize Routh’s right to a fair trial.
Prosecution’s Stance and Concerns
While prosecutors acknowledge that some delay might be necessary, they contend that postponing the trial until December 2025 is unreasonable. The Justice Department cites the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, which advocates against unnecessary legal postponements. They also express concerns about potential influences on the jury pool with an extended delay.
“Proceeding with the scheduled trial or anytime soon thereafter — on charges punishable by life imprisonment — would result in a miscarriage of justice” – public defenders Kristy Militello and Renee Sihvola
The prosecution has disclosed Routh’s extensive criminal record and a note he allegedly wrote about attempting to assassinate Trump. They argue that Routh’s own record-keeping and the nature of the charges should be considered when determining an appropriate trial date.
Prosecutors request indefinite delay in trial for Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh https://t.co/645m9qX19y https://t.co/645m9qX19y
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) October 3, 2024
Background of the Case
The case against Routh stems from an incident where he was spotted by a Secret Service agent allegedly aiming a loaded rifle at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Routh, known as a strong activist for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, had previously been investigated by the FBI. The charges he faces could potentially result in life imprisonment if convicted.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has scheduled a hearing to discuss the case status and trial schedule. This hearing will provide an opportunity for both sides to present their arguments regarding the trial delay request, with the possibility of setting a new trial date in the near future.
Sources:
- Trump suspect requests delay of attempted assassination trial
- Man accused of Trump assassination attempt asks to delay trial
- Ryan Routh’s legal team files motion to delay trial, citing volume of evidence to review
- Routh Requests Delay of Trump Assassination Attempt Trial