Federal prosecutors have charged the man who was spotted with a gun outside of Donald Trump‘s golf course with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Ryan Wesley Routh “did intentionally attempt to kill Former President of the United States Donald J. Trump, a major Presidential candidate” when he was camped out near where Trump was golfing on Sept. 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The charges carries a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
It also added two other charges – possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.
Routh had previously been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The indictment comes one day after Trump issued a statement accusing the Justice Department of “downplaying” the alleged assassination plot against him this month and suggesting state officials in Florida take over the case.
“The Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Department of Justice and FBI are mishandling and downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July. The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist,” Trump said in a statement Monday, alleging they have a conflict of interest “since they have been obsessed with ‘Getting Trump’ for so long.”
Federal prosecutors had indicated during Routh’s court appearance Monday that other charges were coming. He’s been ordered held without bail pending trial.
