The federal trial of Ryan Routh, charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024, is nearing its conclusion as prosecutors presented several law enforcement and forensic experts on Thursday.
Randy Walters, an ATF explosive device examiner, testified that a gray box retrieved from the residence of one of Routh’s associates contained homemade devices, including modified rat traps designed to activate explosives, pipes, and .50 caliber cartridges. “It’s limitless,” Walters stated regarding the improvisation of such traps. He informed jurors that the components served no purpose other than as weapons and revealed that seven partially assembled firing mechanisms were discovered in a bag within the box.
During cross-examination, Routh inquired whether the individual components were illegal to possess. Walters confirmed that most were not, but later clarified under prosecutorial questioning that it is illegal for a convicted felon to own ammunition.
The jury also examined a Chinese-made semiautomatic rifle that prosecutors allege Routh brought onto Trump’s golf course, as FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle provided testimony. The jurors closely scrutinized the weapon and other evidence throughout the afternoon.
Routh challenged Schnelle by asking, “So, you honestly don’t know if it’s semiautomatic or fully?” after the agent acknowledged he had not test-fired the firearm.
Representing himself in court, Routh often highlighted documents, sighed, and apologized to witnesses. He approached one Miami-based agent during cross-examination and remarked, “At least you didn’t have to drive far.” At various times, he suggested that answers should be “just common sense” and continued speaking despite prosecutors’ objections, which led Judge Aileen Cannon to intervene.
The court was scheduled to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday for a charge conference with counsel. The prosecution is anticipated to conclude its case on Friday, with the defense instructed to prepare its witnesses.
