Florida Judge Delays Routh Sentencing to February

A federal judge in Florida has delayed the sentencing of Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old man convicted of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, after granting his request for legal representation. The hearing, originally scheduled for this week in Fort Pierce, will now take place in early February, allowing Routh to have an attorney for both sentencing and any appeals.

Routh represented himself during most of his trial but sought counsel following his conviction in September on all counts, which included attempting to kill a presidential candidate and multiple firearm-related offenses. The incident occurred on September 15, 2024, when Routh aimed a rifle through shrubbery at Trump's West Palm Beach country club while the former president was playing golf. Prosecutors stated that Routh had spent weeks planning the attack. A Secret Service agent testified that he spotted Routh before Trump entered the area, and when Routh pointed the rifle at the agent, the agent fired shots, prompting Routh to drop the weapon and flee without discharging it. Routh was later apprehended nearby.

The trial concluded dramatically when, moments after the guilty verdict, Routh...