Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday evening that the state of Florida would conduct its own investigation into the alleged assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
Authorities arrested 58-year-old Ryan Routh — a Democrat donor with a criminal history — after Secret Service noticed his AK-47-style rifle as he hid in shrubbery only a few hundred yards away from Trump at Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach. When he was engaged by federal law enforcement officials, he ran and got into a car and drove off. Police were able to locate him and take him into custody because a witness got a photo of his car and the license plate.
“The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club,” DeSantis posted from his official government account. “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee.”
The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club.
The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 16, 2024
Trump released a statement late on Sunday night after the incident in which he thanked all those who helped keep him safe during the ordeal.
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“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day!” Trump posted on social media. “Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE.”
“THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING,” he added. “I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records indicate that Routh donated exclusively to Democrats from 2019-2020 when he lived in Hawaii.
The small-dollar donations, sent through the Democrats’ fundraising platform ActBlue, were earmarked for Democrat presidential candidates Beto O’Rourke, Andrew Yang, Tom Steyer, Tulsi Gabbard, and Elizabeth Warren.
voting records indicate he’s a 58-year old registered w/no party preference in North Carolina and previously lived in Hawaii. FEC records show some small contributions to the Tom Steyer, Andrew Yang, Elizabeth Warren, Tulsi Gabbard, and Beto O’Rourke 2020 presidential campaigns.… https://t.co/47S84keCU7 pic.twitter.com/DHOAVVRMq5
— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) September 15, 2024
Routh reportedly had numerous run-ins with the law while living in North Carolina.
FOX8 WGHP reported that Routh’s criminal record dates back to 2002, when “he barricaded himself inside a business with a gun in Greensboro.”
NBC News reported that he was convicted of possessing a weapon of mass destruction — in this case, a fully automatic machine gun — in 2002. He likely would have been barred from owning a firearm after the conviction.
“Records also show convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of stolen property and hit-and-run,” the report said. “In those cases, which included misdemeanor convictions for violations such as resisting an officer and driving on a suspended license, the defendant received a suspended sentence and parole or probation.”
