Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in September, is facing a new charge of attempted felony murder related to a car crash that happened as he tried to flee authorities, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday.
Moody said as Routh fled north on I-95, law enforcement was forced to shut down traffic in both directions in order to capture him and keep the public safe. The lane closure, however, resulted in a traffic crash that injured a 6-year-old girl traveling with her family.
The new charge against Routh comes after what she described as a “lack of cooperation and support from federal agents” that has left authorities in Florida frustrated.
“We immediately reached out and began communicating with our federal partners,” she said. “As soon as we began those overtures, we immediately were confronted with a lack of willingness to allow us access to the crime scene, an unwillingness to provide evidence that was collected, an unwillingness to allow us to accompany witness interviews, and the list goes on and on.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis echoed Moody’s remarks, claiming that federal officials have been difficult to work with on the matter.
Ashley Moody, attorney general for Florida, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)
“The feds have stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance,” he posted on X. “The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed. The would-be assassin needs to face the full force of justice and the people deserve the truth about the defendant’s history, motivations and plan.”
Routh remains in federal custody. His trial is currently scheduled for Feb. 10, 2025.
