Man who tried to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course gets life in prison

"U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh's fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts. Prosecutors had asked for life without parole, saying Routh is unrepentant and has never apologized. A defense attorney brought in for his sentencing asked for 27 years, noting that Routh is already turning 60."

"Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum that Routh has yet to accept any responsibility and should spend the rest of his life in prison, in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines. He was convicted of trying to assassinate a major presidential candidate, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a felon and using a gun with a defaced serial number."

"Routh's new defense attorney, Martin L. Roth, asked for a variance from sentencing guidelines: 20 years in prison on top of a seven-year, mandatory sentence for one of the gun convictions. The defendant is two weeks short of being sixty years old, Roth wrote in a filing. A just punishment would provide a sentence long enough to impose sufficient but not excessive punishment, and to allow defendant to experience freedom again as opposed to dying in prison."

Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon imposed the sentence in the Fort Pierce courtroom where Routh tried to stab himself after his conviction. Prosecutors sought life without parole, describing Routh as unrepentant and without apology. Routh was convicted on counts including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, and possessing a firearm as a felon with a defaced serial number. He also received a consecutive seven-year gun sentence. Defense counsel had requested a reduced term, noting Routh's age.

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