Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent thwarted Ryan Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf in Florida
A man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course told a US federal judge on Thursday he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself, saying he will be ready to defend himself before a trial jury this fall.
Ryan Routh made his request during a hearing in Fort Pierce before US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon.
When the judge asked Routh, 59, whether he wanted her to appoint new lawyers to defend him, Routh replied: “No. I will represent myself.”
Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
