WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – For the third consecutive week, Ryan Wesley Routh is expected to appear in federal court in West Palm Beach on Monday, this time for an arraignment.
The hearing follows a grand jury indictment last week on an attempted assassination charge for allegedly plotting to kill former President Donald Trump.
Authorities said Routh, 58, who was initially arrested on two federal weapons charges, was ordered to remain in jail last week while awaiting trial.
Prosecutors presented new evidence, including a handwritten letter in which Routh allegedly stated his intention to assassinate Trump.
Investigators said deputies arrested the suspect a short time later near Palm City after Palm Beach County deputies released a “very urgent” be on the lookout, or BOLO, alert for a black Nissan sports utility vehicle.
Authorities claim Routh scouted locations near Trump’s residence for months before eventually camping outside his West Palm Beach golf club. Law enforcement discovered a rifle and backpack in the nearby tree line.
VIDEO: Bodycam footage shows arrest of Trump attempted assassination suspect
Following Routh’s indictment on the attempted assassination charge, it was revealed that Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed federal judge who generated intense scrutiny for her handling of a criminal case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. She dismissed that case in July, a decision now being appealed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast had organized a congressional committee tour of Trump International Golf Course on Friday to interview witnesses in the case, but the event was postponed due to Hurricane Helene.
In addition to facing federal charges, Routh is also being charged with attempted murder by the Florida attorney general.
Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that the “suspect is believed to have committed state law violations” and criticized the federal investigation into the first assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying there are still many questions from that incident that have not been answered.
“The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis wrote last week on X.
On Tuesday, DeSantis vowed that the state’s investigation would be more transparent than the federal investigation.
Court records show Routh is facing once count each of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, illegal possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and illegal possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh’s arraignment is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Monday.
While he has not yet entered a plea, that is expected to happen later. A Local 10 News crew will be in the courtroom, providing updates as the hearing unfolds.