Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges.

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His lawyer Kristy Militello entered the not guilty plea during a brief arraignment in a West Palm Beach federal courthouse and requested a jury trial.

Wearing a beige prison uniform and shackles on his wrists and ankles, Routh answered "yes, your honor," when the magistrate judge asked him if he was aware of the charges against him.

Routh was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking out from brush on the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round.

The agent opened fire and Routh, who fled in a vehicle, was arrested shortly later.

He has been charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and firearms offenses.

A federal judge ruled last week that Routh, identified as a Hawaii resident, should remain in custody.

FBI analysis of Routh's phone showed he had been in Florida since August 18, and his devices were located multiple times between that date and September 15 near Trump's golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to prosecutors.

Before being spotted by the Secret Service agent, Routh spent nearly 12 hours in the vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club, according to his phone location data.

Court documents said Routh allegedly dropped off a box at an unidentified person's home several months before the attempted assassination containing various letters.

One letter, addressed to "The World," allegedly said: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you."

"I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster," it said. "It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job."

It was the second assassination attempt on Trump this summer. The first took place on July 13 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire on the former president, killing one person and wounding Trump in the ear.

The candidate was otherwise unharmed, and the gunman was killed at the scene.

The Routh case has been assigned at random to federal District Judge Aileen Cannon -- a Trump appointee who dismissed criminal proceedings against the former president earlier this year over his retention of top-secret documents at his private residence.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges.

Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of plotting to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty on Monday to several federal charges. His lawyer Kristy Militello entered the not guilty plea during a brief arraignment in a West Palm Beach federal courthouse and requested a jury trial. Wearing a beige prison uniform and shackles on his wrists and ankles, Routh answered "yes, your honor," when the magistrate judge asked him if he was aware of the charges against him. Routh was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking out from brush on the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round. The agent opened fire and Routh, who fled in a vehicle, was arrested shortly later. He has been charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and firearms offenses. A federal judge ruled last week that Routh, identified as a Hawaii resident, should remain in custody. FBI analysis of Routh's phone showed he had been in Florida since August 18, and his devices were located multiple times between that date and September 15 near Trump's golf course and his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to prosecutors. Before being spotted by the Secret Service agent, Routh spent nearly 12 hours in the vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club, according to his phone location data. Court documents said Routh allegedly dropped off a box at an unidentified person's home several months before the attempted assassination containing various letters. One letter, addressed to "The World," allegedly said: "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you." "I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster," it said. "It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job." It was the second assassination attempt on Trump this summer. The first took place on July 13 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire on the former president, killing one person and wounding Trump in the ear. The candidate was otherwise unharmed, and the gunman was killed at the scene. The Routh case has been assigned at random to federal District Judge Aileen Cannon -- a Trump appointee who dismissed criminal proceedings against the former president earlier this year over his retention of top-secret documents at his private residence. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ryan Routh, accused of plotting to kill Donald Trump in Florida, pleads not guilty to federal charges

Ryan Routh, the gunman who attempted to kill former US president Donald Trump near his golf&nbsp;course in Florida has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors.&nbsp;

"The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop," said Attorney General Merrick Garland, adding that he would&nbsp;"use every available tool" to hold Routh accountable.

Routh has been remanded in custody ahead of the trial. He already faces up to 20 years in prison on two gun-related charges but faces a maximum life sentence if convicted on the new, more serious charge.&nbsp;

The indictment stated that Routh "did forcibly assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere" with a Secret Service special agent. He will return to court for another hearing next Monday (Sep 30), where he is expected to enter a plea deal.&nbsp;

The case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who earlier this year dismissed a criminal case accusing the Republican leader of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-assassination-bid-suspect-identified-as-ryan-wesley-routh-of-hawaii-759163" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Trump Assassination Bid: Suspect identified as Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-assassination-bid-suspect-identified-as-ryan-wesley-routh-of-hawaii-759163/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Chilling letter</h2>

The decision to charge Routh comes a day after a chilling letter was unveiled that he had written to an unnamed witness, months before the attack on Trump.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the pre-written letter, addressed to "The World"&nbsp;Routh pre-empted a failed assassination attempt on the Republican leader.

"I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.&nbsp;It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,"&nbsp;the letter read.

Trump “ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unravelled,” the letter added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/second-trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ryan-routh-charged-with-gun-crimes-759227" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Second Trump assassination attempt: Suspect Ryan Routh charged with gun crimes</a>

<h2>Four rounds were fired at Routh</h2>

The Secret Service said its agents were accompanying&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on the golf course when one who was securing holes ahead of&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;spotted a gun barrel in some bushes near the property line.&nbsp;

Multiple agents engaged Routh and&nbsp;fired at least four rounds at him.

The gunman then dropped his AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, a GoPro camera and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. Routh was later taken into custody.&nbsp;

<h2>Trump blames Democrats for shooting</h2>

Talking to the media after the incident, Trump blamed the Democrats and said their rhetoric had caused the repeated shootings against him.

"This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you," it added.&nbsp;

It was the second attempt on his life after a shooter nearly took him out during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ryan Routh, the gunman who attempted to kill former US president Donald Trump near his golf course in Florida has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors.

Ryan Routh, the gunman who attempted to kill former US president Donald Trump near his golf course in Florida has been charged with 'attempted assassination' by the prosecutors. "The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop," said Attorney General Merrick Garland, adding that he would "use every available tool" to hold Routh accountable. Routh has been remanded in custody ahead of the trial. He already faces up to 20 years in prison on two gun-related charges but faces a maximum life sentence if convicted on the new, more serious charge. The indictment stated that Routh "did forcibly assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere" with a Secret Service special agent. He will return to court for another hearing next Monday (Sep 30), where he is expected to enter a plea deal. The case has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who earlier this year dismissed a criminal case accusing the Republican leader of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving office. Watch | Trump Assassination Bid: Suspect identified as Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii Chilling letter The decision to charge Routh comes a day after a chilling letter was unveiled that he had written to an unnamed witness, months before the attack on Trump. In the pre-written letter, addressed to "The World" Routh pre-empted a failed assassination attempt on the Republican leader. "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," the letter read. Trump “ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unravelled,” the letter added. Also read | Second Trump assassination attempt: Suspect Ryan Routh charged with gun crimes Four rounds were fired at Routh The Secret Service said its agents were accompanying Trump on the golf course when one who was securing holes ahead of Trump spotted a gun barrel in some bushes near the property line. Multiple agents engaged Routh and fired at least four rounds at him. The gunman then dropped his AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, a GoPro camera and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. Routh was later taken into custody. Trump blames Democrats for shooting Talking to the media after the incident, Trump blamed the Democrats and said their rhetoric had caused the repeated shootings against him. "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you," it added. It was the second attempt on his life after a shooter nearly took him out during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump gunman Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination by prosecutors

Fifty-eight-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday (Sept 15), was on Monday charged with two gun-related crimes in federal court.

Fifty-eight-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday (Sept 15), was on Monday charged with two gun-related crimes in federal court. The incident happened at Trump's golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. The former US president was unharmed. A report by the news agency Reuters said that more charges against Routh appeared likely, but the initial counts—possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number—would allow authorities to keep him in custody as the investigation continued. Four rounds were fired at Routh The Secret Service said its agents were accompanying Trump on the golf course when one who was securing holes ahead of Trump spotted a gun barrel in some bushes near the property line. Also read | Who is Ryan Wesley Routh, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump? Multiple agents engaged Routh and fired at least four rounds at him. The gunman then dropped his AK-47-style rifle, two backpacks, a GoPro camera and other items and fled in a black Nissan car. Routh was later taken into custody. Routh has two prior convictions, both in North Carolina, according to the criminal complaint: a 2002 conviction for possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction and a 2010 conviction for possession of stolen goods. The attempt on Trump's life came after he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, sustaining a minor injury to his right ear. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service. Secret Service under pressure The Secret Service is under pressure following the two assassination attempts on Trump. The July 13 attempt on Trump's life led to the resignation of the agency's director, Kimberly Cheatle. Also read | Second Trump assassination attempt: US President Joe Biden says Secret Service ‘needs more help’ Earlier on Monday, President Joe Biden told reporters that the Secret Service needed more help. Cheatle's replacement, Acting Director Ronald Rowe, travelled to Florida after Sunday's assassination attempt, according to several news outlets. On July 30, Rowe told Congress that he was "ashamed" of security lapses in the earlier attack. US attorney general pledges exhaustive probe On Monday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to deploy "every available resource" into the probe of Sunday's assassination attempt on Trump. "We are grateful that the former president is safe. We will work tirelessly to ensure accountability, and we will bring every available resource to bear in this investigation," Garland said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Second Trump assassination attempt: Suspect Ryan Routh charged with gun crimes