Florida prosecutor explains why the "insanity" defense won't succeed for the suspect in the Trump assassination attempt.
It is evident that Ryan Wesley Routh was not insane during the unsuccessful attack on Donald Trump.
A Florida prosecutor argues that Ryan Wesley Routh's support for the Ukrainian cause in their struggle against Russian invasion makes it challenging for him to use an insanity defense in relation to his alleged attempt to assassinate former President Trump.
Dave Aronberg, the state attorney who is not handling Routh's case, stated that despite appearing to be smiling and laughing with his defense lawyers during his first court appearance on Monday, Routh's "manic" behavior does not seem to him to be indicative of criminal insanity.
"He fled after all, tried to get away and escape, he said. This shows that he knew the difference between right and wrong. What's ironic about this guy is that he also understood that the Ukrainians were the good guys in their fight against the Russians, but to try to make his point, he was trying to do an evil act in attempting to kill someone."
Nearly 12 hours after federal investigators say Routh's phone began pinging on the edge of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, a U.S. Secret Service agent saw a rifle barrel poking through the fence on Sunday afternoon.
He escaped into a Nissan SUV and accelerated northbound on Interstate 95 towards his residence in North Carolina.
WATCH: Florida prosecutor pokes hole in potential defense for Trump assassination attempt suspect
With the help of an eyewitness, authorities quickly obtained descriptions of both the suspect and his vehicle, police said.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in federal court, investigators found an SKS rifle, a digital video camera, and two bags at the scene, including one with food inside.
"Aronberg stated that the guy has a significant disconnect in his value system, and there may be a mental issue that is not severe enough to justify an insanity defense under the law."
WATCH: Failed Trump assassination suspect Ryan Routh captured on bodycam video
In a 2022 interview with Newsweek Romania, Routh discussed his thoughts on the Ukrainian conflict.
""While other conflicts may be ambiguous, this one is clearly defined as a battle between good and evil, reminiscent of classic movie plots," he stated to the outlet."
Routh is being charged with federal firearm offenses for having an SKS rifle, which has an allegedly defaced serial number, despite his prior felony convictions.
In 2019, a tipster reported that Routh might be a felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm in Hawaii. The FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri stated that the complainant was interviewed, but they did not verify the information. As a result, Routh was not interviewed by the FBI, and the details were forwarded to Honolulu authorities.
Additional charges may be filed against him later this month as he is scheduled to return to court.
Aronberg stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the suspect could face charges of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a rifle at a Secret Service agent and making threats against a former president.
A federal attempted murder case is rare, he added.
"They may not have all the evidence yet," he said. "They're still investigating. However, that's more of a charge at the state level than at the federal level."
On Wednesday, Trump will hold his first rally after the second assassination attempt at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
Patrick Ryder, the county police commissioner, assured attendees that they would be in the safest place in the country.
On July 13, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He fired at Trump, hitting him in the ear, and also killed a 50-year-old father of two named Corey Comperatore and seriously injured David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.
The security lapse that enabled a counter-sniper to climb onto a rooftop and kill the former president led to multiple investigations and a shakeup at the Secret Service's top ranks.
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