Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, has pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal court. Prosecutors allege that Routh, 58, was discovered hiding in the bushes near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach earlier this month, armed with a rifle. A Secret Service officer protecting Trump reportedly spotted Routh’s rifle barrel poking through a fence and subsequently opened fire. Routh managed to escape and was later apprehended on Interstate 95, a major highway in the state.
Appearing in court on Monday, Routh was seen handcuffed and dressed in a brownish prison jumpsuit, as reported by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. During the hearing, Routh shook his head in acknowledgment of the charges as each count was read to him. His defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty and requested a trial by jury. The entire hearing lasted approximately five minutes.
