Defense Visits Trump Golf Course in Preparation for Assassination Trial

Joe Biden was busy addressing reporters regarding federal job reductions and promulgating executive orders in the Oval Office last Tuesday when an unexpected visit occurred at his golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. Although not publicly announced, this visit seeks to address a high-profile criminal trial in America this year.

The Federal Case Against Ryan Routh

Defense attorneys for Ryan Routh were granted access to tour the Trump golf course on Feb. 25 to prepare an evidence in the alleged assassination attempt against Mr. Trump during a golf outing on Sept. 15. The involvement of the DOJ in facilitating this visit was disclosed in court filings reviewed by CBS News. The prosecution team took the lead in arranging this visit despite the Trump golf course being private property. Furthermore, the prosecution team ensured that the firearm allegedly used by Routh was transported from the FBI's lab in Quantico, Virginia, to the FBI Field Office in Miramar, Florida, for inspection by the defense. Despite the unusual nature of such an inspection, the prosecution team accommodated this request.

According to the federal authorities, Routh meticulously plotted to kill Trump for weeks and aimed a rifle at him through the shrubbery while he was playing golf on Sept. 15 at the Trump West Palm Beach country club. Before Trump came into view, Routh was reportedly spotted aiming his rifle at a Secret Service agent, forcing the agent to open fire. Although Routh did not fire a shot, he left behind a note detailing his intentions. The White House, FBI, Justice Department officials, and Routh's federal public defense attorneys declined to comment on the visit to the president's Florida golf property.

Low Profile of Routh's Federal Criminal Case

The federal criminal case against Routh, which garnered significant attention when filed in September, has not received much publicity in the subsequent months. The apparent overshadowing of Routh's case by the dramatic July assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, has contributed to its low profile. Currently, his trial is scheduled for September 2025. Additionally, the case has sparked another federal investigation involving Routh's son, Oran, who is facing charges in North Carolina. Following the alleged assassination attempt, federal investigators discovered multiple electronic devices containing suspected child exploitation images in Oran Routh's apartment. Oran Routh subsequently signed a plea agreement acknowledging the involvement of images of a prepubescent minor. He is set to be sentenced on May 14 at the federal courthouse in Greensboro, North Carolina.