A man arrested for allegedly sitting with a rifle in the trees near where Donald Trump was golfing earlier this month left a letter detailing his plans to assassinate the former president, CNN reports, citing federal prosecutors.
They allege that Routh, who traveled from North Carolina to Florida in August, spent multiple days near Trump’s residence and golf course. During his time in West Palm Beach, Routh exhibited concerning behavior, leading to his arrest on September 15.
“Cell phone data shows him near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and the golf course ‘multiple days and times’ between August 18 and September 15,” prosecutors said in a court filing.
The arrest was made after a search of Routh’s vehicle revealed a cache of items, including six cell phones, a Google search for travel routes from Palm Beach County to Mexico, twelve pairs of gloves, a Hawaii driver’s license, and a passport.
Routh’s background includes a failed attempt to enlist in the Ukrainian military to fight against Russia, as well as construction work in Hawaii. His online activity reveals frequent engagement with US politics and global events, where he declared his 2016 vote for Trump, yet expressed disappointment in his presidency.
In a self-published book, Routh went further, directly addressing the Iranian government.
“You are free to assassinate Trump.”
