Routh Faces Potential Assassination Charge in Trump Case

Legal representatives disclosed in court on Monday their intention to petition a grand jury to contemplate a charge alleging that Ryan Wesley Routh attempted to end the life of former President Donald Trump.

The federal magistrate at the West Palm Beach proceeding denied bail, decreeing that Routh must remain in custody pending the resolution of the charges, deeming him a significant flight risk and threat to public safety.

There exists "probable cause to support additional charges which can and should be taken into account by the court," stated Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto.

Dispoto indicated that the government is prepared to "request a grand jury to consider a charge that the defendant attempted to assassinate Trump," which carries a "maximum penalty of life imprisonment."

Routh, the individual suspected by the FBI of plotting to terminate Trump, possessed a list including dates from August to October of locations where Trump had appeared or was anticipated to be -- and is believed to have traveled near the golf facility where the incident occurred Sept. 15 and Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate multiple times in the month preceding his arrest, prosecutors stated in a detention filing on Monday.

In their memorandum, prosecutors further revealed that Routh allegedly dispatched a letter "several months prior" to his arrest to a civilian witness that declared, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you."

Routh, 58, has already been indicted for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number for the incident that transpired at Trump International Golf Club.

Dispoto elaborated on the fence surrounding Trump International golf club and the moment the Secret Service advance agent spotted the barrel of a rifle on that fence line.

"What they discovered, your honor, was nothing short of a sniper position," Dispoto stated, likening it to something seen in "the movies or a war zone."

The government contended the sole reason Routh was in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15 and the preceding month was "for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to terminate the former President of the United States." Dispoto stated that if not for the swift action of the Secret Service "the defendant may very well have succeeded."

An FBI special agent's "approximate" estimation was that the distance between where Routh is alleged to have been positioned on the fence line, to the green on the 6th hole of the course was 100 feet — 32 yards or thereabouts.

"This was a straightforward shot. He was approximately 12-15 minutes away from arriving," Dispoto said of Trump's positioning on the course at the time. Dispoto stated there were no obstructions to Routh's "snipers nest" should former President Trump have arrived at the 6th green.

FBI special agent Christopher Hull stated this view from the fence line to the 6th hole was "generally an unobstructed view" with "very minimal" obstructions. "Twigs or leaves but nothing that would have obscured the hole." "I do not believe anything would have obstructed" the view from the fence line to the 6th hole, Hull stated. Hull said he examined other areas of the fence line, and every other area would have been "a blocked view."

The evidence, Dispoto stated, "clearly demonstrates a month-long scheme to assassinate the former president."

According to the government, the rifle Routh is alleged to have had a round in the chamber, which indicated it would have discharged with the pull of the trigger. The rifle's extended magazine contained a total of 11 rounds, the government stated.

Prosecutors also disclosed that shortly after Routh was apprehended he communicated with a female acquaintance and indicated that he was on a recorded line. Routh said to the person he was sorry. The individual, whose identity was not revealed by prosecutors in court, responded to Routh by saying: "I am processing the most horrific thing you could have done." Routh, according to the government, responded by apologizing again.

According to the prosecutors' detention memo, when searching Routh's vehicle following his arrest agents found a total of six cell phones -- one of which contained a google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

Agents further discovered "a notebook with dozens of pages filled with names and phone numbers pertaining to Ukraine, discussions about how to join combat on behalf of Ukraine, and notes criticizing the governments of China and Russia."

Cell site records obtained by the FBI confirmed Routh first traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach on Aug. 14, and "on multiple days and times" from Aug. 18 to Sep. 15 his cell phone was located near the golf course as well as Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago. They did not list the specific dates or the exact number of times Routh is suspected to have traveled near Trump's properties.

Trump was playing golf on the course when a Secret Service agent spotted a gun barrel protruding from the tree line near the sixth green, according to investigators.

MORE: Assassination attempt suspect Ryan Wesley Routh didn't have a line of sight on Trump or take a shot: Officials

The agent then discharged his weapon in the direction of the rifle and saw Routh fleeing the area and entering his Nissan vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

Routh was allegedly 300 to 500 yards away from the former president and did not discharge a shot, according to investigators. Trump was not in Routh's line of sight, according to the Secret Service.

Witnesses reported the license plate number to authorities, and the suspect was stopped and detained.

In the area of the tree line where the suspect was seen, agents found a digital camera, two bags, including a backpack, and a loaded SKS-style 7.62x39 caliber rifle with a scope, according to the complaint. The serial number on the rifle "was obliterated and unreadable to the naked eye," the complaint states.

Routh did not enter a plea for his initial charges and his arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 30.

The investigation is ongoing and the FBI has been examining Routh's social media and criminal history and communicating with family members to gather more information.

Investigators further revealed that three days after they apprehended Routh, a civilian witness contacted them with information that Routh had dropped off a box at their residence several months ago that contained "ammunition, a metal pipe, miscellaneous building materials, tools, four phones, and various letters."

"One handwritten letter, addressed to "The World," stated, among other things, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you," the filing said. "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."

Routh suggested Iran should feel "free to assassinate Trump" and himself in a self-published book from February 2023.

In the book, which ABC News has unearthed following Sunday's incident, Routh directed an apology toward Iran, apparently for his previous support for Trump, who withdrew the U.S. in 2018 from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran.

MORE: Trump suspect told Iran 'you are free to assassinate Trump' in apparent self-published book

Agents further said they had reviewed a book authored by Routh, which has previously been publicly reported on, titled, "Ukraine's Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen-Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea, WWIII and the End of Humanity."

In it, Routh wrote he "must take part of the blame for the [person] that we elected for our next president that ended up being brainless, but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake and Iran I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment and the dismantling of the deal. No one here in the US seems to have the balls to put natural selection to work or even unnatural selection."

The suspect was also a supporter of a number of causes, including the war in Ukraine, an ABC News analysis of his apparent social media profiles shows.

As authorities attempt to unravel the motive and details of the case, sources said investigators were examining whether Routh was frustrated with Trump's stance on Ukraine.