Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
NYT: Florida Charges Man Suspected of Trump Assassination Plot
NYT - (archive: https://archive.ph/jgKxn ) Florida Charges Man Suspected of Trump Assassination Plot
As Ryan W. Routh fled the scene, a highway was shut down and a car crash ensued. In charging him with attempted felony murder, the state defied federal prosecutors.
By Patricia Mazzei
Reporting from Miami
Dec. 18, 2024, 3:57 p.m. ET
Florida officials filed charges on Wednesday against the man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald J. Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in September, defying federal prosecutors who had asked the state to suspend its investigation while their own moved forward.
The state charged Ryan W. Routh with attempted felony murder, citing injuries that a child sustained in a crash on Interstate 95 shortly after police officers shut down the highway in pursuit of Mr. Routh. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
Ashley Moody, the Florida attorney general, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, have repeatedly criticized the Biden Justice Department over its investigation of Mr. Routh, questioning federal prosecutors’ credibility because until recently, they were also prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. DeSantis began the state’s parallel investigation two days after the shooting, saying the federal agencies could not be trusted. In October, Ms. Moody sued the Justice Department, asking a federal judge to stop the department from blocking the state’s investigation after federal authorities said theirs should proceed first.
Ms. Moody’s complaint said that among other things, federal officials did not want Florida to interview witnesses while the federal investigation was going on.
/snip
As Ryan W. Routh fled the scene, a highway was shut down and a car crash ensued. In charging him with attempted felony murder, the state defied federal prosecutors.
By Patricia Mazzei
Reporting from Miami
Dec. 18, 2024, 3:57 p.m. ET
Florida officials filed charges on Wednesday against the man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald J. Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in September, defying federal prosecutors who had asked the state to suspend its investigation while their own moved forward.
The state charged Ryan W. Routh with attempted felony murder, citing injuries that a child sustained in a crash on Interstate 95 shortly after police officers shut down the highway in pursuit of Mr. Routh. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
Ashley Moody, the Florida attorney general, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, have repeatedly criticized the Biden Justice Department over its investigation of Mr. Routh, questioning federal prosecutors’ credibility because until recently, they were also prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. DeSantis began the state’s parallel investigation two days after the shooting, saying the federal agencies could not be trusted. In October, Ms. Moody sued the Justice Department, asking a federal judge to stop the department from blocking the state’s investigation after federal authorities said theirs should proceed first.
Ms. Moody’s complaint said that among other things, federal officials did not want Florida to interview witnesses while the federal investigation was going on.
/snip