Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, Taken into Custody After Secret Service Responds to Threat at Mar-a-Lago
On Sunday afternoon, around 2 p.m., former President Donald Trump was playing golf near his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. The situation took a dramatic turn when a Secret Service agent spotted a rifle with a scope hidden in the bushes outside the golf course, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
The Secret Service agents fired shots at the suspect, who then fled the scene in a black Nissan. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was later apprehended without incident by a Martin County Sheriff’s traffic unit on Interstate 95.
Weapons and Evidence Found
At the scene, authorities recovered an AK-47 style rifle along with two backpacks and a GoPro camera. The rifle was found near a fence by the golf course.
Connection to Ukraine
Routh had publicly supported Ukraine against the Russian invasion and claimed to have traveled to Ukraine to witness the conflict. In 2022, he told Newsweek Romania that he volunteered to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion but was rejected due to age and lack of combat experience. Instead, he said he assisted with military recruitment in Kyiv. However, a representative from the International Legion later confirmed that Routh never served with them.
Political Stance and Background
Routh, who was once a supporter of Donald Trump, became disillusioned with the former president and expressed his disappointment on social media. In 2020, he criticized Trump for not meeting expectations and voiced support for Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard, though he later criticized her for aligning with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Routh also supported Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, criticizing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Criminal History
Routh has a significant criminal history. Records show over 100 criminal charges against him in North Carolina. In 2002, he was convicted of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, specifically a machine gun, after a high-speed chase and standoff in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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