Ryan Wesley Routh was charged Tuesday with the attempted assassination of Donald Trump after the alleged gunman staked out the former president’s Florida golf course earlier this month.
Routh, 58, was indicted on the new federal charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate after he was previously slapped with weapons charges, the US Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
The high-profile case was assigned to Trump-appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon, CNN reported.
Cannon tossed a separate federal criminal case against Trump in July that was brought by special prosecutor Jack Smith over allegations the ex-commander in chief illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago mansion.
The latest charge was brought against Routh one day after prosecutors released a letter penned by the accused would-be assassin in which he allegedly admitted he was going to try to kill Trump.
Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with attempted assassination on Tuesday. AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images Routh was previously hit with weapons charge after he was arrested. PBCSO/MEGA
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” the chilling letter read.
“I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now