Judge orders detention without bail for man charged in foiled assassination attempt on Trump

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A judge in Florida ruled on Monday that Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, will remain in custody without bail while awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a thwarted assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe made the ruling during a court hearing where Routh was represented by two public defenders.

According to authorities, Routh was apprehended on September 15 after he was found hiding in the brush behind the sixth hole of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, armed with a loaded semiautomatic rifle. He faces two firearm possession charges related to this incident and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Additional charges may also be filed as federal investigators continue to gather evidence.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented new evidence during the hearing, including a note allegedly written by Routh several months prior, in which he expressed regret for failing to carry out the assassination. The note reportedly included an offer of a $150,000 bounty for anyone who could fulfill the task. The prosecution emphasized Routh's potential danger to society, citing his detailed notepad entries tracking Trump's appearances.

Routh was arrested less than an hour after the incident, following an encounter with Secret Service agents who noticed the barrel of his rifle protruding through a fence during a security sweep. He is currently in custody as the investigation continues.