The suspect in Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump has been hit with two gun-related charges.
As the Secret Service, FBI and local authorities investigate further, the Republican presidential nominee and his running mate, JD Vance, are blaming the rhetoric of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, with Trump saying the suspect “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”
Here are the latest developments:
- Trump’s account: The former president publicly recounted what happened in detail for the first time Monday night, recalling in a livestreamed discussion that he was playing golf with some of his friends and “all of a sudden we heard shots.”
- Charges announced: Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh has been charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN there could be additional charges. The judge found Routh could not afford his attorney after Routh said he had “zero funds.”
- Court dates: A detention hearing has been set for September 23, and the arraignment is set for September 30. Routh will be held in jail while he awaits trial.
- More known about Routh: The FBI is working to learn more about the suspect’s background and whether he acted alone. Records show Routh has an extensive criminal history in North Carolina. The 58-year-old protested in Kyiv after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and wrote a self-published 291-page book. The FBI is working to pursue search warrants for Routh’s vehicle, cell phone and other devices.
- Details revealed: The suspect “did not have line of sight” on Trump when he was caught by agents. We now know he may been lying in wait for nearly 12 hours along the tree line at Trump’s golf club. Routh was driving his daughter’s car when he was detained, according to a law enforcement source.
- Evidence found: Officials found a digital camera, a backpack, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope, on which the serial number was obliterated, and a black plastic bag containing food in the area.
- Secret Service under scrutiny: The Secret Service director has defended the level of security provided for Trump as Sunday’s incident raises new alarms about whether the agency can adequately protect the former president.
