Topline
Former President Donald Trump accused the Department of Justice of “mishandling and downplaying” the second assassination attempt on him, saying it’s “very difficult to trust” the department and the FBI under President Joe Biden and calling on Florida to take over the case from federal officials.
Former President Donald Trump said on social media Monday the charges brought against Ryan W. Routh … [+]
Key Facts
Trump criticized the charges—which he said were “a slap on the wrist”—in a statement posted to Truth Social on Monday afternoon.
Trump said the charges the would-be assassin faces were the latest of “many lawless, Radical attacks” on him, noting the two impeachment attempts from when he was in office and the numerous indictments he is facing.
Ryan W. Routh, who has been named as the suspect in the attempted assassination on Sept. 15, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of firearm with an obliterated serial number, though officials have said he may face more charges.
The former president suggested Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida lead the investigation and prosecution if the DOJ and FBI “cannot do their job honestly and without bias, and hold the aspiring assassin responsible to the full extent of the Law.”
DeSantis said last week that Florida would launch its own investigation into the assassination attempt, adding: “We have a very strong interest in holding this suspect accountable.”
Forbes has reached out to the DOJ for comment.
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Tangent
Shortly after Routh was detained, Trump blamed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the attempted assassination. He told Fox News Digital that Routh “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” referring to Biden and Harris’ comments saying Trump was “a threat to democracy.” Biden and Harris both spoke to Trump after the attempt and said they were relieved he was safe, and Biden has called for the Secret Service to receive more help.
Key Background
On Sept. 15, Secret Service agents spotted a rifle poking through shrubbery at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, and opened fire. Trump’s campaign immediately issued a statement saying he was safe after shots were fired in his vicinity. The gunman fled the scene, but was seen by a witness who told police details of the car he escaped in and later identified him. The suspect, Routh, was detained about 45 minutes later on a freeway heading north, and is being held without bail while he awaits trial on the gun charges. The day after Routh was detained, federal officials said he did not fire his gun before fleeing or have Trump in his line of vision, though he was able to get between 300 and 500 yards from the president with an AK-47-style gun with a scope. Routh’s near-attempt on Trump’s life was the second since July, when a gunman opened fire from the roof of a nearby building at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot in the ear, one bystander was killed and two other rally attendees were injured before the Secret Service killed the shooter.
