Ron DeSantis expresses 'strong interest' in Ryan Routh as Florida launches probe into Trump attack

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Florida governor Ron DeSantis said they have a "strong interest" in holding Ryan Wesley Routh "accountable" as he is suspected of carrying out the second assassination on former president Donald Trump.

DeSantis disclosed information about the investigative team during a news conference in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, September 17, following his initial announcement of a state-level probe into the purported assassination attempt.

Ron DeSantis expresses distrust in federal agencies seeking Donald Trump's prosecution

Ron DeSantis expressed distrust in federal agencies, suggesting they were the ones seeking to prosecute Donald Trump and handed over the case to the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution.

"It is not in the best interests of our state and nation to have the same federal agencies seeking to prosecute Trump leading this investigation," DeSantis wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"Most serious offense constitutes a violation of state law, not federal law," he said during the news conference. 

“The suspect committed several state law violations across multiple judicial circuits, including Martin County as well as, perhaps, the judicial circuit represented by Broward County,” DeSantis added.

“In addition to holding the suspect accountable, the public deserves to know the truth about how this assassination came to be," the governor continued.

"There will be accountability in Florida. The people of our state, and the entire country, deserve no less," he said on X.

Who will be investigating Donald Trump's second assassination attempt in Florida?

The state-level investigation will be spearheaded by Attorney General Ashley Moody as Governor Ron DeSantis announced signing an executive order, assigning the apparent assassination case to the Office of Statewide Prosecutor under the supervision of Moody.

It will move alongside the federal inquiry into Routh, who faces federal firearms charges.

DeSantis mentioned that under Moody's guidance, Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution could potentially present a more compelling case than that of the federal authorities.

"We have a strong interest in holding this suspect accountable," DeSantis told reporters according to Newsweek.

"I believe this offense merits life in prison, and if we don't go to the fullest extent of the law, we lower the threshold for future attempts," DeSantis added.

The Governor also noted that a state-led investigation would serve the public and justice more effectively, raising concerns over the federal government's impartiality in light of the current case against Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

Ryan Wesley Routh was spotted with gun near golf course where Donald Trump was playing

In a statement on Sunday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state would conduct its own investigation.

“The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee," he wrote on X.

The recent attempt on Trump's life occurred just weeks following a July 13 incident at a Pennsylvania campaign rally, where Trump sustained injuries to his ear by a bullet fired by Thomas Matthew Crooks who was killed moments after.

Authorities arrested Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, after a US Secret Service spotted him with a rifle sticking out of shrubbery on a golf course where Trump was playing.

Routh had been waiting for nearly 12 hours and fled after the agents spotted him before he could shoot and fired in his direction.

He was later arrested in a neighboring county. The FBI calls it an "apparent assassination attempt."