Donald Trump's would-be assassin stalked ex-president for a month, prosecutors say

Ryan Routh, the man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, left behind a note saying he intended to kill the former president after stalking him for a month

The man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump left behind a note saying he intended to kill the former president after stalking him for a month.

Prosecutors today said Ryan Routh wrote a note to a pal based on the premise that the assassination attempt would be ultimately unsuccessful. The missive, addressed “Dear World,” was placed in a box that was dropped at the home of an unidentified person who contacted law enforcement officials after Routh’s arrest.

It read: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 (£112,000) to whomever can complete the job."

The box, which also contained ammunition, a metal pipe and other items, was not opened by the person until after Routh was taken into custody. The person who received it and contacted law enforcement was not identified in the Justice Department's detention memo.

In today's prosecution filing, lawyers claimed that on August 14, “Routh travelled from the Greensboro, North Carolina, area to West Palm Beach, Florida.” They wrote: “On multiple days and times from August 18, 2024, to September 15, 2024, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago."

The memo was filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where Routh is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Prosecutors said he also had a list of dates and venues where the businessman was to appear in his car. The new allegations were included in a detention memo filed ahead of a hearing at which the Justice Department was expected argue that the 58-year-old should remain locked up as the case moves forward. The details are meant to support the prosecution case that Routh had set out to kill Trump before the Secret Service thwarted the plot.

An agent spotted a rifle poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing opening fire on the suspect. An attorney for Routh didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Authorities who searched his car found six mobile phones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

They also found a list with dates in August, September and October and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to, according to prosecutors. A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.