Following the publication of the unsettling letter written by Ryan Wesley Routh—the man who is suspected of trying to kill former President Donald Trump—the Justice Department has come under scrutiny. The letter revealed Routh’s intention to shoot Trump while he was playing golf, and the DOJ’s decision to make it public raised questions about whether this might lead to more acts of violence against the former president.
After his botched attempt to kill Trump over the weekend, Routh, 58, is due to make his first court appearance. Prosecutors disclosed a letter that Routh reportedly wrote outlining his intentions and even threatening to provide a reward to anyone who would “finish the job” in court documents. Authorities claim that Routh was part of a premeditated assassination plot and that he had planned to assassinate Trump when he was playing golf.
The letter, “The World,” said:
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.” Critics of the DOJ’s decision to disclose the disturbing message argue that it could work as a call to action for others with similar objectives, which has incited uproar.
The prosecution also revealed that, months prior to the attack, Routh had left a box at the residence of an accomplice that included metal pipes, tools, ammunition, and letters. This box’s contents provide more proof of Routh’s intricate scheme. Along with taking the serial number off an AK-47-style rifle that was discovered close to the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, he is also suspected of tampering with his firearm.
Former Attorney General William Barr criticized the DOJ on Monday after learning about the letter, labeling the action as “rash” and raising the possibility that it might “risk inciting further violence.” Barr raised concerns about the possible repercussions of making such divisive content public, drawing a comparison between the scenario and the Nashville shooter’s manifesto, which was kept secret by authorities for more than a year in order to discourage imitation.
“I was dumbfounded that the DOJ made public this morning the contents of the letter that, Ryan Routh, left with an acquaintance prior to the attempted assassination of former President Trump,” Barr said to Fox News.
Under two separate presidents, the well-known American attorney general served as the country’s attorney general. Under President George H.W. Bush, he served a first term from 1991 to 1993. Under President Donald Trump, he served a second term from 2019 to 2020.
Democrats have criticized Barr for being seen as being unduly devoted to President Trump, particularly in the way he handled the Mueller report and other legal issues. Barr left his position in December 2020 following a period of conflict with Trump on the outcome of the 2020 election.
“The letter calls on people to ‘finish the job’ of killing President Trump, attempts to rouse people in incendiary terms to do so, and offers $150,000 to anyone who succeeds. There was no apparent justification for releasing this information at this stage,” Barr explained. “Even if DOJ thought it important to provide the letter to the court, it could have redacted inflammatory material or arranged to have the letter submitted under seal. It was rash to put out this letter in the midst of an election during which two attempts on the life of President Trump had been made. It served no purpose other than to risk inciting further violence,” Barr concluded.
Secret Service agents discovered that the rifle’s barrel was sticking out from the fence line around the golf course, and they disregarded Routh’s plot. Routh is said to have abandoned his gun along with other belongings, including a rucksack that included a GoPro camera, when agents opened fire. Local police pursued him for a short while before capturing him.
Additionally, investigators are looking into Routh’s digital trail, which purportedly demonstrates him monitoring the former president’s public appearances and staking out Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Before Trump showed up on the golf course, Routh had to wait for as long as twelve hours, according to cell phone statistics. Additionally, according to the prosecution, Routh possessed a handwritten list of Trump’s scheduled speeches in the run-up to the November election.
The letter’s explanation of Routh’s reasoning reveals a strong discontent with Trump’s foreign policy choices, especially those related to the Middle East. The letter chastises Trump for “ending relations with Iran like a child,” a move that, in Routh’s opinion, contributed to the region’s continued instability.
