Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024, will represent himself in his defense starting Monday. Prosecutors have concluded their case, having presented surveillance footage, phone data, and financial records linking Routh to Trump’s movements and activities prior to the alleged attempt. Routh’s defense is expected to call three witnesses, including a firearms expert and character witnesses. The prosecution’s case included testimony from FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy, who detailed phone data, license plate records, bank transactions, and surveillance footage that prosecutors claim link Routh to Trump’s activities. Financial records also showed large deposits and transfers through accounts in Routh’s daughter Sara’s name, some of which were then moved to Routh. Text messages and PayPal activity reflected exchanges around money transfers, including a message to his son Oran requesting the rest of the money for a phone in West Palm Beach. The defense is preparing to present its case, which is expected to include a firearms expert and character witnesses, as the jury will hear Routh’s defense starting on Monday.
McGreevy testified that Routh’s ‘home base’ between August 14 and September 15, 2024, was the Marathon truck stop in South Bay, Florida, where receipts showed he paid cash for overnight parking. Body-cam footage from a welfare check at the truck stop showed Routh wearing madras shorts later found in his Nissan Xterra and seen in airport surveillance on September 7, when he was recorded watching Trump’s plane lift off. Jurors also saw evidence of extensive online searches and surveillance. Reports from Routh’s phones included searches for Trump’s campaign schedule, rally tickets, and golf course properties, as well as live airport feeds and plane-tracking websites. One exchange presented to the jury included an aerial image of Trump’s plane. A contact named Vladmir texted, ‘Palm Beach, yours?’ and Routh responded, ‘Trump’s plane. He gets on and off every day.’
Financial records presented showed large deposits and transfers through accounts in Routh’s daughter Sara’s name, some of which were then moved to Routh. Text messages and PayPal activity also reflected exchanges around money transfers, including a March 29, 2024 message to his son Oran: ‘Got a real phone… in West Palm Beach… Can you Western Union the rest of the money….’ Prosecutors ended their case Friday after introducing dozens of witnesses, including Secret Service agents, FBI experts, and former associates. Starting Monday, the jury will hear from Routh’s defense, which is expected to include a firearms expert and character witnesses.