Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with two firearm offenses in federal court on Monday. If convicted on the two firearms charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years.
He was questioned by the judge in order to determine his eligibility for a public defender. He told the court that he has a job that pays $3,000 per month, but when asked whether he has any other assets, he replied that he did not. The judge appointed a public defender to represent Routh.
Routh’s initial appearance in court was brief, just under 10 minutes. He appeared in court in a blue jail-issued jumpsuit and was shackled and handcuffed. His demeanor was very relaxed, despite the gravity of the charges, and he smiled and laughed at times with his lawyer.
Federal authorities have five days to determine if there will be bail issues, and another court hearing was scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30.
Routh, 58, was armed with an AK-47-style rifle and was allegedly 300-500 yards away from former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Course when members of the Secret Service detail spotted him and opened fire, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
It’s not clear if the suspect fired any shots. The FBI is leading the investigation.Routh was pulled over and detained about 50 miles away after a law enforcement alert was issued for the black Nissan with the license plate number.
He did not resist when he was taken into custody.
Law enforcement officials say they found the rifle, a scope, two backpacks with ceramic tile and a GoPro camera in the bushes at the golf course.
Several people who have spoken with Trump say he was in good spirits Sunday night and has recounted what happened to multiple friends, family members, and advisers.
He thanked the Secret Service for their response. He also joked that he wishes he could have finished his round of golf. He has told others he is determined to keep on campaigning this week.
Meanwhile, Trump told Fox News Digital on Monday that he believes “the rhetoric of Biden and Harris” is what is causing him to be “shot at.”
Trump blamed the “combination of rhetoric and lawsuits they wrap me up in,” saying “these are the things that dangerous fools” listen to — “and the same with the first one,” he added, referring to the July 13 shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“He believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump said, although investigators have not yet commented on the suspect’s possible motive. “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country”
Trump mentioned Mr. Biden and Harris’ comments that he is a “threat to democracy,” saying they are the “opposite” of unity leaders.
@CBS News
