The man accused of attempting to assassinate at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Ryan R. entered the federal courtroom in West Palm Beach handcuffed in a tan jumpsuit and waved his hands at reporters gathered to watch the proceedings. With shackles on his wrists and ankles, the suspect answered “yes, your honor,” when the judge asked him if he was aware of the charges against him.
He requested a trial by jury.
Suspect’s movements tracked
Authorities say the 58-year-old spent 12 hours camped outside Trump’s golf course before Secret Service spotted him with a rifle on September 15.
FBI analysis of the suspect’s phone showed he had been in Florida since August 18, and his devices were located several times between that date and September 15 near Mar-a-Lago, according to prosecutors.
Earlier this month, the US Justice Department announced that the gunman had been indicted on charges that included the attempted assassination of , a charge which carries a potential life sentence upon conviction.
Previous assassination attempt
From this assassination bid, Trump emerged unharmed, unlike a a previous effort in July, although in this previous case the US Secret Service say the shooter never had a line of sight on the presidential candidate.
The shooter in an earlier attempt in July, who , was shot at the scene as law enforcement returned fire and died of his wounds.
jsi/msh (AFP, Reuters, AP)
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