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A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced Ryan Wesley Routh to life in prison for the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, capping a case prosecutors said involved weeks of surveillance, planning, and a rifle positioned within range of the then former president during a 2024 campaign stop at a Florida golf course.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, was “life plus” an additional term tied to a firearms count, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and contemporaneous reporting from major outlets.
A Brush Line, a Rifle Barrel, and Seconds That Ended the Attempt
Authorities say the attempt unfolded on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club, when Routh concealed himself in thick brush near the course perimeter as Trump played.
A United States Secret Service agent spotted a rifle muzzle protruding through fencing, opened fire, and triggered a rapid escape and manhunt that ended with Routh’s arrest the same day, according to DOJ statements and reporting from Reuters and Associated Press.
The government’s narrative has been consistent across filings and courtroom coverage: the alleged shooter did not stumble into a security bubble. Prosecutors described deliberate preparation, equipment accumulation, and tracking of Trump’s movements.
Convicted on All Counts, Then Sentenced to the Maximum
A federal jury convicted Routh on all five counts in the indictment, DOJ said, and Judge Cannon later imposed the maximum penalty at sentencing.
In coverage of the hearing, Routh is described as making disjointed remarks and showing little visible remorse, while the court emphasized the seriousness of targeting a major presidential candidate.
DOJ’s national office said the sentence was life plus 84 months and linked the outcome to both violent and firearms offenses arising from the attempt and the encounter with federal agents.
A Courtroom Moment That Underlined the Volatility of the Case
The trial and its aftermath also included a disturbing moment after the guilty verdict, when Routh attempted to harm himself in court, accounts reported.
Officials Frame the Case as More Than One Man’s Crime
In announcing the sentence, DOJ cast the attempted assassination as an attack that reverberates beyond the intended target, describing political violence as corrosive to democratic life and crediting investigators and prosecutors for stopping the plot before shots were fired at Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly condemned the attempt, according to Reuters’ account of the sentencing.
Appeal Expected
Routh’s lawyers signaled an appeal, Reuters reported, setting the stage for further litigation even as the sentence effectively removes him from public life for good.
What We Can Say With Confidence, Based on the Record and Corroborated Reporting
- Routh was sentenced to life in federal prison, with an additional consecutive term tied to a firearms count.
- The attempt took place at a Florida golf course in West Palm Beach, and was interrupted by Secret Service action after an agent spotted a rifle.
- A federal jury convicted him on all counts charged in the indictment.
- Multiple reputable outlets and PBS describe a post-verdict self-harm attempt in court.
