FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The Justice Department said Wednesday it will call a new slate of witnesses in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, the Florida man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024.
Prosecutors told the court they expect testimony from Ronnie Jay Oxendine, the man who allegedly sold Routh the rifle tied to the case, as well as several FBI agents and specialists who handled the investigation and forensic analysis. The trial entered its eighth day as jurors continue to weigh the government’s evidence against Routh, who is representing himself.
Tuesday’s proceedings highlighted forensic work on digital devices and physical evidence seized by investigators. FBI examiners displayed messages purportedly recovered from Routh’s phones and tablets, including a WhatsApp exchange in which an account attributed to Routh said, "I hate him… shan’t get elected again," a reference to Trump. Another message read, "If I can help just let me know what to do."
FBI specialists also testified about DNA and trace evidence. Agents said Routh’s DNA was strongly linked to the grip of the rifle, a bag, a glove and other items prosecutors contend were discovered at the alleged sniper’s nest near the golf club. The government introduced those findings to tie Routh physically and digitally to the weapon and the scene where the shooting attempt occurred.
Prosecutors identified several FBI personnel expected to testify in the coming days, including Patrick M. Lantry, a task force officer; Aaron Thompson; Matthew S. Perry, an FBI special agent; Garett L. Foo, an FBI special agent; and Laura E. Haller, an FBI special agent and digital forensic examiner. The government also said it will call two witnesses identified as Lazaro and Samuel Plata; their testimony will be supported by Spanish-English translators in the courtroom.
Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, maintained a brisk tempo in court, limiting the length of prosecutor questioning and admonishing Routh to stop interrupting. Routh has rejected appointed counsel and is acting as his own lawyer, a decision that has shaped much of the courtroom dynamic and prompted repeated judicial reminders about procedure and decorum.
Prosecutors indicated they expect to rest their case by the end of the week, a timetable that would allow the self-represented defendant to begin presenting witnesses and evidence next week. The government has sought to build a chain of evidence linking the purchase and possession of the rifle to Routh, supplemented by the digital messages and DNA results presented to jurors.
The trial is part of a wider federal investigation into the shooting attempt at the golf club in 2024 that briefly thrust security protocols and presidential safety into public scrutiny. Authorities have previously described the incident as an attempted assassination; Routh faces charges related to the alleged effort to kill a protected person and related firearms offenses.
Witness testimony in the coming days — including that of the alleged gun seller and the lineup of FBI forensic specialists — is likely to be viewed by jurors as central to the government’s narrative tying Routh to the weapon and the scene. Defense strategy is expected to begin unfolding once the prosecution rests, when Routh will have the opportunity to call his own witnesses and cross-examine those presented by the government.
The proceedings continue in federal court in Fort Pierce, where sketches of the trial have been used to portray courtroom activity because photography is not permitted. Observers said the pace of testimony and the technical nature of the forensic evidence have made the case particularly detailed for jurors tasked with sorting physical, digital and testimonial proof in a high-profile matter.