58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh is in custody after shots were fired at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in what is being described as a second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Routh has a long criminal history, including a conviction for possessing a machine gun. In 2002, he led authorities on a vehicle chase and was found with a fully automatic machine gun. He has also been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property, hit-and-run, and other misdemeanors, but did not serve time in state prison.
Routh has faced over 100 criminal counts in North Carolina and has been involved in civil court cases, including a divorce and multiple lawsuits against a roofing company he helped run. He has expressed support for Ukraine and frustration with the country’s reluctance to admit foreign fighters. Routh has criticized U.S. leadership on the issue and called for greater support for Ukraine. He made small contributions to ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, between 2019 and 2020.
There is no immediate indication that Routh’s actions were motivated by Trump’s stance on Ukraine. However, it is believed that he was lying in wait for Trump at the golf club before being taken into custody by law enforcement. The federal government is expected to file charges against him, possibly including attempted assassination. Routh was described as compliant and quiet after being apprehended by authorities.
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