This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano identifying the defendant in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano holding up the weapon found in the bushes during opening statements in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
This courtroom sketch shows lead government prosecutor John Shipley speaking during the opening statements of the during the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
A pickup truck decorated in support of President Donald Trump sits parked outside the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse, after the start of jury selection in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla.聽
A law enforcement officer from the Department of Homeland Security stands watch at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse as jury selection began in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla
Prosecution continues case against the man accused in a Trump assassination attempt
Witnesses from the FBI and the Palm Beach County Sheriff鈥檚 Office on Friday offered details on the law enforcement response and evidence collection during the trial of a man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year.
This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano identifying the defendant in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
Witnesses from the FBI and the Palm Beach County Sheriff鈥檚 Office on Friday offered details on the law enforcement response and evidence collection during the trial of a man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year.
One FBI agent presented a 3D computer model of the golf course that showed the so-called sniper鈥檚 nest was about 125 feet (38 meters) from the 6th hole, according to local news outlets. Another agent described the collection of evidence, which included an SKS semi-automatic rifle with a round chambered, extra ammunition, metal ballistic plates and cans of Vienna sausages. A Palm Beach deputy testified that the area was swept for explosives, but none were found.
It was the second day of testimony, coming the day after opening statements were cut short. The federal government took its full 40 minutes, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon declared that defendant , who is representing himself, forfeited his right to continue making an opening statement after failing to keep his comments relevant to the case despite repeated warnings.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The case was previously expected to run two or three weeks, but that timeline could shorten, as Routh’s cross examinations of prosecution witnesses have been relatively brief. Meanwhile, Routh has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert, as well as several character witnesses. Routh hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.
Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, said there are three ways that a defendant representing himself could testify. The method is up to the judge鈥檚 discretion, but the judge can鈥檛 prevent a defendant from testifying.
鈥淚f Routh wants to testify, he has to be allowed to testify,鈥 Jarvis said.
The most common is for the defendant to take the witness stand and then offer a narrative to the jury. Less common is for the defendant to answer questions he poses to himself. The most rare method would be for the judge to allow the jurors themselves to ask questions but, Jarvis said, that is almost never done.
Under any of those scenarios, prosecutors would then be allowed to cross examine the defendant and ask their own questions.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of , assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Prosecutors have said Routh, 59, methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump鈥檚 ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
