This courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh, back left, as Kristy Militello, far left, Routh’s lead public defender, reviews the day’s Juror Lists with the co-assistant defense counsel during the trial of Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
This courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh’s children, Adam Routh, left, and Leah Routh, sitting in the gallery during the trial of Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
A police car drives past the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse as jury selection began in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A Department of ɫɫland Security K9 unit officer walks past a truck decorated in support of President Donald Trump, as he works with a dog trained to detect explosives outside the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse after the start of jury selection in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
This courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh, left, making his statement to the jury as prospective jurors hold up paddles indicating that they want to be heard to be excused during the trial of Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
Potential jurors return for the trial of a man charged with trying to assassinate Trump in Florida
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A prospective juror being screened Tuesday for the trial of a man charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida was dismissed after saying he was present at Ryan Routh’s arrest.
This courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh, back left, as Kristy Militello, far left, Routh’s lead public defender, reviews the day’s Juror Lists with the co-assistant defense counsel during the trial of Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A prospective juror being screened Tuesday for the trial of a man charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida was dismissed after saying he was present at Ryan Routh’s arrest.
Another man was excused during the second day of jury selection after saying that Routh had left a voicemail message at the construction company where he works several days before the assassination attempt. A woman was dismissed after saying she knew a deputy on the witness list.
By midafternoon Tuesday, 70 of the 180 potential jurors had been excused during the first round of jury selection. Those who remained included a golf course superintendent who said Trump had offered him a job at a golf course in West Palm Beach several decades ago, but he had turned it down.
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The potential jurors were asked Tuesday morning whether they had hardships that would prevent them from serving on the jury and if they could adhere to the presumption of innocence for the defendant.
A woman raised her hand and told U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that she had been following the case since the incident occurred and it would be hard to change her opinion.
“I am MAGA and I love my president,” the woman said, referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to represent himself but said court-appointed attorneys needed to remain as standby counsel.
During a hearing Monday to go over questions that would be asked of jurors, Cannon dismissed questions Routh wanted to ask jurors as irrelevant. They included asking jurors about their views on , the and what they would do if they were driving and saw a turtle in the road.
The judge approved most of the other questions for jurors submitted by prosecutors.
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Routh’s trial begins nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot the Republican presidential nominee. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of , assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.
Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
