Donald Trump blasts DOJ for 'mishandling and downplaying' second assassination attempt

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former president Donald Trump has accused the Justice Department of mishandling and downplaying the second attempt on his life in just a few months.

Trump suggested that state officials in Florida should take over the investigation since he believes federal authorities have too many conflicts of interest.

"The Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Department of Justice and FBI are mishandling and downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July. The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist," Trump said in his statement.

He went on to allege that the DOJ and FBI have been "obsessed with 'Getting Trump' for so long" that they can’t handle this case impartially.

Second assassination attempt on Donald Trump

So, what exactly went down on September 15? Authorities say Ryan Routh was spotted with a long gun lying in wait outside the Trump International Golf Club in Florida, where Trump was golfing. Routh has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

However, Trump and his allies believe those charges don’t go far enough. The Justice Department hasn’t ruled out the possibility of additional charges. They’ve hinted that more could be on the way as they gather further evidence. It’s pretty common for the DOJ to file initial charges and then add more once they’ve collected all the necessary information.

During a hearing in federal court, a prosecutor flat-out told the judge that Routh had one mission in Florida: to kill Trump. Considering, the former president seems to think the DOJ isn’t taking it seriously enough.

Donald Trump takes a swipe at DOJ

Following an earlier assassination attempt in July, Trump had tried his best to avoid turning it into a partisan issue. But he's not holding back this time. Trump accused the Justice Department of unfairly targeting him over the years, especially since they’ve brought charges against him in two separate cases.

In his Monday statement, Trump listed off the various investigations the DOJ has launched into him: including the infamous probe into Russian interference during the 2016 election and the cases alleging he mishandled classified documents and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

"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, Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida have already agreed to take the lead on the investigation and prosecution. Florida charges would be much more serious than the ones the FBI has announced," he wrote.

"Let Florida handle the case," he added in all caps.

Florida steps in

It's worth noting that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had already taken action by issuing an executive order, calling for a state investigation into the assassination attempt.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody even penned a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and US Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, urging them to share evidence with the state’s investigation.

In her letter, Moody wrote that Florida "understandably desires to investigate violations of its laws, including attempted murder" and that she expects cooperation from federal authorities.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland, on the other hand, assured the public that the Justice Department was doing everything in its power to investigate the assassination attempt.

During an event last week, Garland said: “The entire Justice Department, including in particular the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the National Security Division, are all coordinating closely with our local, state, law enforcement partners on the ground.”

He added that the DOJ would "spare no resource in this investigation" and work tirelessly to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Routh’s arrest and Trump's defiance

A Secret Service agent spotted Routh in a bush near the golf club on September 15 and fired at him. Routh was arrested shortly afterward, and prosecutors later revealed that he had written a letter earlier in the month that established “this was an assassination attempt.”

Routh is currently being held until trial, which is scheduled for September 30. Prosecutors are pushing for his continued detention, citing the clear threat he posed — not just to Trump but potentially to others as well.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Trump has faced an attempt on his life. Back in July, he was shot in the head but the bullet grazed his right ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Despite the terrifying experience, the 45th POTUS plans to return to Butler for another rally on October 5 — just a month before Election Day.

Sources familiar with his campaign told NBC News that Trump isn’t letting these threats slow him down.