Ex-FBI official worrried about 'scary' possibility of Ryan Routh having information on Trump's movements

According to a report, Ryan Routh was positioned between 300 and 500 yards away from Donald Trump
Ryan Routh allegedly tried to attack former president Donald Trump in Florida on September 15, 2024 (Getty Images, Facebook/Ryan Routh)
Ryan Routh allegedly tried to attack former president Donald Trump in Florida on September 15, 2024 (Getty Images, Facebook/Ryan Routh)

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Chris Swecker, a retired FBI assistant director has expressed concerns over the possibility that the alleged would-be assassin Ryan Wesley Routh targeting Donald Trump had inside information, calling the situation "scary."

Authorities are investigating the arrest of Routh who aimed at Donald Trump at a golf course in Florida with suspicions that the suspect may have been tipped off about Trump’s whereabouts.

Ryan Routh's arrest at West Palm Beach golf club

On Sunday, September 15, Ryan Routh, 58, was apprehended after agents of the Secret Service stationed a few holes ahead of Donald Trump spotted the muzzle of an AK-style rifle emerging from shrubbery at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The agents saw Routh with the weapon and a GoPro camera which appeared to be set up to record the attack against the Republican presidential candidate who was golfing at the time, according to authorities.

The alleged assassin was positioned between 300 and 500 yards away from Trump.

BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY - JULY 28: Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Donald Trump was at his Florida golf club when Ryan Routh allegedly tried to target him for assassination on September 15, 2024 (Getty Images)

Chris Swecker questions how Ryan Routh knew Donald Trump would be at the golf course that day

Raising the critical question of how Ryan Routh knew Donald Trump would be at the golf course on September 15, Chris Swecker said, “The biggest question to answer is: ‘How did the would-be assassin know to be at that location at that time?’”

“There are only three possible answers: He guessed and got very lucky; he conducted surveillance on Trump and followed him to the golf course, or he had inside information about Trump’s schedule,” he told Newsweek.

What was Ryan Routh's motive behind the alleged attack against Donald Trump?

The officials stated that the FBI is leading the investigation and is working to determine a motive behind the planned attack.

According to authorities, Ryan Routh's social media activity echoed anti-Trump rhetoric and expressed concerns about threats to democracy.

“We know this suspect has posted about Trump being a danger to democracy,” said Swecker.

The alleged assassin has a history of run-ins with the law, including an hours-long standoff with police in 2002.

As per online records, he has been previously convicted of carrying a "weapon of mass destruction."



 

Routh has also been involved in other strange activities, including traveling to Ukraine to attempt to recruit Afghan fighters, further suggesting his erratic behavior.

Investigators are continuing their probe to determine whether Routh acted alone or had external help for the alleged attack, and how exactly he came to know about Trump’s whereabouts on the day.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Karoline Leavitt criticized the media for ignoring election integrity concerns and urged reporters to watch President Trump's speech before judging it
1 hour ago
Zohran Mamdani said the proposed meeting followed a request to the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, not one initiated by his office
2 hours ago
'If we don't have safe and secure elections in our country, we cannot have a country', Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing
3 hours ago
At the State Department summit, Scott Bessent said critics should consider his alleged attacker before questioning Trump's focus on far-left extremism
4 hours ago
The accused placed bets for over three months on multiple Trump speeches, including addresses at the WEF in Davos, Medal of Honor ceremony, and more
5 hours ago
Ahead of Trump's election security address, House Democrats urged intelligence officials to reject selective declassification
5 hours ago
Iranian state media reported attacks in Semnan and strikes across Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan-Baluchestan
6 hours ago
John Thune said Republicans weren't close to the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and argued Democrats would not support the effort
7 hours ago
At Ministerial attended by around 65 foreign delegations, the US secretary of state urged allied nations to deepen cooperation against far-left threat
7 hours ago
Byron Donalds also pointed to Trump's relentless work ethic as a defining characteristic of his campaign's success
14 hours ago