A South Florida federal judge warned Ryan Wesley Routh — the kook representing himself against charges of plotting to kill President Trump — not to “make a mockery” of the courtroom Thursday while he gave disjointed opening remarks to jurors.
Routh, 59, was just a few minutes into his rambling statement when Fort Pierce US District Judge Aileen Cannon interrupted, saying his comments had “absolutely nothing to do with this case.”
Routh’s remarks had touched on topics including prehistoric human history and mentioned world leaders including Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This case means absolutely nothing,” Routh said at one point. “A life has been lived to the fullest.”
After stopping Routh’s comments once, Cannon cut off the defendant completely for repeatedly running afoul of courtroom rules.
“We have limited patience, and you don’t have unlimited license to go forward and make a mockery of the dignity of this courtroom,” Cannon told him according to Fox News.
Routh, a struggling roofing contractor who lived in Hawaii, is on trial for allegedly camping out in a sniper’s nest with an SKS assault rifle at Trump International West Palm Beach golf course as the then-Republican presidential nominee was golfing on Sept. 15, 2024.
A Secret Service agent scouting ahead of Trump spotted Routh and opened fire, prompting the suspect to flee before he could carry out his violent plan, prosecutors say.
“Last year, the defendant Ryan Routh wanted to make sure that the people of this country could not elect Donald Trump as president of the United States,” prosecutor John Shipley said during his opening statement. “So the defendant decided to take the choice away from American voters.”
Later Thursday, prosecutors called their first witness, Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano, who foiled Routh’s alleged plan.
“This appeared to be a textbook ambush scenario,” Fercano told jurors, adding when he saw Routh he started firing and walking backwards.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to five charges including attempted assassination. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
The trial started one day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated by a sniper at Utah Valley University during a public speaking engagement launching his his multi-city “American Comeback” tour.
With Post wires
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