September 20th 2024.
According to sources in law enforcement, federal investigators are currently combing through electronic devices and other evidence in their pursuit to bring more serious charges against the suspect believed to be involved in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf club. One of the key areas of focus for investigators is whether there is a potential foreign connection, such as links to ongoing Iranian threats against the former president or the suspect's previous travels abroad.
However, at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the suspect was motivated or directed by any foreign elements to target Trump. As more details emerge, it is clear that the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, has not been cooperative with the FBI since his arrest on Sunday. Currently, he only faces charges related to possessing a firearm, but prosecutors and investigators are working to build a stronger case with additional charges.
This task is proving to be challenging as the Secret Service has stated that Routh did not have a direct line of sight to Trump from his location on the perimeter of the golf club. Additionally, he did not fire any shots before a Secret Service officer shot at him and he fled the scene. This means that prosecutors will need to rely on other evidence to establish his intent on that day.
David Aronberg, the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, emphasized the importance of clear evidence that Routh intended to target Trump and took a significant step towards that goal if they want to bring the most severe charges against him. He also noted that while it is possible to be charged with attempting to assassinate a former president or a major presidential candidate without actually firing a shot, proving it in court is another matter. Investigators are currently looking for any written or online posts by Routh that may indicate his intentions and serve as evidence of his express intent.
Routh is scheduled to appear at a detention hearing on Monday, where prosecutors will argue for him to remain in custody until his trial. He has not yet entered a plea, and prosecutors have the option of filing additional charges at any time. CNN has reached out to Routh's defense attorney for comment.
The investigation is ongoing, with federal investigators conducting interviews with potential witnesses and reviewing Routh's electronic devices. They are hoping to gain more insight into his intentions and motives. Investigators have spoken to Routh's friends and family from North Carolina to Hawaii, and they have even searched a home he previously lived in.
There is also a possibility of a foreign connection, given the recent intelligence on Iranian plots to assassinate Trump. Chelsea Walsh, a nurse who met Routh while working in Kyiv and reported him to federal authorities in 2022, called the FBI after the attempted assassination. The FBI followed up with an in-person conversation, but the details of their discussion have not been disclosed.
According to Katrina Berger, Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations, Routh was stopped by Customs and Border Patrol upon his return to the US from Ukraine and was referred to HSI. However, Berger explained that there was no reason to arrest him at the time, and it is unclear if any further investigation took place. She also emphasized that just because a person is not immediately taken into custody does not mean they are not the subject of a more extended investigation.
The concerns about a potential foreign connection stem from recent intelligence on Iranian plots to assassinate Trump. While there is no evidence linking Iran or any other foreign government to the suspect arrested on Sunday or the gunman from the previous assassination attempt, the threat of foreign involvement remains a major concern for US officials. The FBI is taking this threat seriously and is actively investigating the possibility of a foreign connection in both cases.
Investigators are also looking into Routh's social media presence to gain a better understanding of his intentions and motives. His posts reveal a fixation on Ukraine, Taiwan, North Korea, and what he calls the "end of humanity." In some posts, he expresses animosity towards Trump and withdrawal of support for the former president. However, these posts alone may not be enough to charge Routh with attempted assassination. Prosecutors have other options, such as charging him with aggravated assault with a firearm against a federal law enforcement officer. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as it progresses.
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