Tue Sep 17 08:01:21 UTC 2024: ## Suspect in Alleged Trump Assassination Attempt Had History of Crime and Ukraine Fixation

**West Palm Beach, FL** – Ryan Wesley Routh, the man arrested in connection with an apparent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, has a long criminal history and recent obsession with global politics, particularly the war in Ukraine.

Routh was apprehended on Sunday afternoon near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, after allegedly aiming a rifle at the former president. The Secret Service, stationed at the course, spotted the rifle protruding from a fence and apprehended Routh, who was hiding in nearby shrubbery.

Routh did not fire any shots, but the agent engaged him with gunfire. Routh then fled the scene in a black Nissan, which was located on the highway a short while later after an eyewitness tip.

Routh, a 58-year-old former construction worker from North Carolina, has a lengthy rap sheet including a 2002 felony conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction, as well as numerous other misdemeanors and felonies.

In recent years, Routh has become fixated on the war in Ukraine. He traveled to Kyiv in 2022, hoping to join the fight against Russia but was deemed unsuitable due to his age and lack of military experience. Routh then focused on recruiting foreign fighters for the Ukrainian cause, even attempting to connect Afghan soldiers with the Ukrainian government.

Routh’s efforts were often met with skepticism, with Ukrainian officials dismissing his claims as “delusional ideas” and expressing concerns about his motivations and recruitment methods.

Routh’s alleged attempt on Trump’s life has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the incident and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning of the consequences of “playing with fire.”

Routh’s family has expressed disbelief at the alleged assassination attempt, describing him as a loving father and hardworking man.

Routh is currently facing charges of possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. His arraignment is scheduled for September 30.

Read More