Judge Aileen Cannon Sentences Ryan Routh to Life Without Parole for 2024 Trump Assassination Plot
Updated (4 articles)
Life sentence without parole imposed by Trump‑appointed judge U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon sentenced Ryan Routh to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Feb 4‑5 2026, adding a mandatory seven‑year term for a firearm charge and, according to CNN, concurrent terms for assault on a federal officer and possession of a defaced gun [1][2][3][4].
Self‑representation sparked courtroom chaos and self‑harm attempt Routh entered a not‑guilty plea, represented himself, and after the jury’s guilty verdict tried to stab himself with a pen, prompting security to intervene and temporarily halt proceedings [1][2][3][4].
Weeks of planning placed a rifle on Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course On Sept 15 2024, Routh positioned a Soviet‑style SKS rifle 126 feet from the 6th green of the Trump International Golf Club, aimed at former President Donald Trump; a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel, fired, and forced Routh to drop the weapon without discharging a shot [1][2][3][4].
Evidence and citizen tip secured conviction Prosecutors presented burner‑phone searches, a target list, a confession letter offering $150,000 for a hit, and the recovered rifle; Routh’s 2023 self‑published book urging Iran to kill Trump was also introduced [2][3][4]; a local citizen, Tommy McGee, recorded Routh’s license plate and identified him for law‑enforcement, testifying at trial [3].
Sentencing details differ across reports CNN enumerates specific concurrent terms (84 months for firearm possession during a violent crime, 240 months for assault on a federal officer, etc.), Newsweek emphasizes a mandatory seven‑year gun charge, while the BBC simply notes a life sentence; the Hindu aligns with Newsweek on the seven‑year addition [1][2][3][4].
Sources
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1.
The Hindu: Ryan Routh Sentenced to Life for Attempted Assassination of President Trump – Highlights life without parole, the chaotic self‑harm incident, and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s praise, emphasizing the plot’s democratic threat .
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2.
Newsweek: Ryan Routh Sentenced to Life for Attempted Assassination of President Trump – Focuses on the seven‑year gun term, Routh’s self‑representation, and his 2023 book urging Iran to kill Trump, underscoring his extremist propaganda .
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3.
CNN: Ryan Routh Receives Life Sentence for 2024 Attempted Assassination of Trump – Provides detailed sentencing breakdown, describes the sniper nest setup, and credits citizen Tommy McGee for aiding capture, stressing investigative evidence .
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4.
BBC: Ryan Routh receives life sentence for 2024 attempt on Donald Trump’s life – Stresses lack of remorse, the Secret Service’s decisive shot, and situates the case as the second 2024 attempt on Trump, linking it to the July Pennsylvania shooting .
Timeline
2023 – Routh self‑publishes a book urging Iran to assassinate former President Donald Trump, providing prosecutors with concrete evidence of his extremist intent and pre‑existing propaganda [3].
July 2024 – At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, 20‑year‑old Thomas Crooks opens fire, killing one attendee, wounding several—including Trump—and is killed by police, marking the first attempted assassination of Trump that year and prompting heightened security measures [1].
Weeks before September 15, 2024 – Routh conducts extensive planning, including burner‑phone searches for “Trump’s upcoming rallies,” compiling a target list, drafting a note offering $150,000 for a hit, and photographing the rifle’s line of sight, establishing clear premeditation [2].
September 15, 2024 – Routh positions an old Soviet‑style SKS rifle 126 feet from the 6th green of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, aims at Trump, and is forced to flee after a Secret Service agent spots the barrel and fires, preventing a shot from being fired [2][1][4].
September 2024 (immediate aftermath) – Citizen Tommy McGee records Routh’s fleeing vehicle’s license plate, testifies at trial, and helps law enforcement locate and arrest Routh, illustrating civilian assistance in thwarting the plot [2].
Feb 4, 2026 – U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, sentences Routh to life in prison without parole plus a mandatory seven‑year gun term, adding concurrent terms for firearm possession and assault on a federal officer, reflecting the gravity of the crime [1][2][3][4].
Feb 4, 2026 (courtroom incident) – Moments after the guilty verdict, Routh attempts to stab himself in the neck with a pen, prompting security to intervene and temporarily halt proceedings, underscoring his lack of remorse [1][3][4].
Feb 4, 2026 (judicial comment) – Judge Cannon writes that Routh’s crimes “undeniably warrant a life sentence” and describes the plot as “deliberate and evil,” reinforcing the judiciary’s condemnation of political violence [1][2].
Feb 4, 2026 (prosecutorial quote) – Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley states, “American democracy does not work when individuals take it into their own hands to eliminate candidates,” highlighting the broader threat to democratic institutions [4].
Feb 4, 2026 (executive reaction) – Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi posts on X that the sentence ensures Routh “will never walk free again,” framing the verdict as a safeguard for the democratic system [4].