It’s been two weeks since Ryan Wesley Routh staked out Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course with an AK-47 for 12 hours with the alleged goal of assassinating the former president. This marked the second assassination attempt on a current or former president in just 64 days.
Now, the Department of Justice has released a letter that was written by Routh. A witness handed over the letter to the DOJ. This unnamed person found it in a box that was given to them by Routh months before the assassination attempt took place.
The witness reportedly only opened the box after Routh’s arrest. The contents of the letter were so chilling that the witness immediately gave it to federal authorities.
From Fox News:
The box contained several handwritten letters as well as ammunition, among other things. One of the letters, addressed “Dear World,” admitted to an assassination attempt on Trump. He also offered money to anyone willing to finish the job.In the letter, Routh criticized Trump as unfit for office.
The detention memo revealed that Routh traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 14, a month before the Sept. 15 golf course incident. One of Routh’s cell phones pinged cell towers near Trump’s golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence “on multiple days and times” from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, the detention memo alleged.
In the letter, Routh offered $150,000 to anyone who could “complete” the job of assassinating Trump.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster,” he wrote. “It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
It’s mind-boggling that despite this letter, Routh still has not been charged with intending to kill a candidate and former president. Instead, he’s only been charged with possessing a gun with a scratched-out number and with possessing a gun illegally as a felon.
When it comes to further charges, what exactly are they waiting for?!
Faith In Secret Service Is At An All-Time Low
This letter raises even more questions about the competence of the U.S. Secret Service. Many of us are still reeling from the July assassination attempt on Trump. This incident resulted in a 20-year-old wannabe assassin shooting Trump in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania. The wannabe assassin had been flagged as a suspicious person over an hour before he opened fire. Despite this, he still succeeded in wounding a former president and killing an innocent rally attendee.
In the months since then, faith in the Secret Service has been at an all-time low. Indeed, this letter will do nothing to help the public perception of them. It’s clear that Routh should have been locked up a long time ago or, at the very least, flagged by federal officials. Instead, he was a completely free man who managed to come dangerously close to assassinating a former president.
Just like any other former president, Trump should be able to count on getting the best possible protection from the Secret Service. Sadly, it seems that he’s not getting anything even close to that.
Key Takeaways:
- DOJ releases letter from Trump assassination attempt suspect.
- He offered $150K to anyone who can “complete the job.”
- Faith in the Secret Service is at an all-time low.
Sources: Fox News, CBS Austin, NBC Chicago