President Donald Trump’s failed assassin, Ryan Routh, who was convicted on Sept. 23 in federal court, is requesting to be imprisoned in a state that permits assisted suicide.
Routh represented himself during his trial in September. A jury quickly returned a guilty verdict on all five counts stemming from Routh’s plot to assassinate then-presidential candidate Trump while he played a round of golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The request by Routh comes ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 18. He faces life in prison.
“I would like to plan forward for sentencing and request kindly to be placed in a state that has assisted suicide since I am a constant failure,” Routh, 59, wrote. “I have yet been unable to obtain a list, but I hope someone can provide it.”
While assisted suicide is legal in 10 states and Washington D.C., state laws have restricted assisant suicides to mentally competent adults living with a terminal illness.
Routh’s interest in ending his life doesn’t come as a surprise. In response to hearing his guilty verdict, Routh grabbed a pen and attempted to stab himself in the neck, but he was unsuccessful as court marshals tackled him.
“This verdict sends a clear message. An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate is an attack on our Republic and on the rights of every citizen,” U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
The failed Trump assassin also suggested in a long tangent that the United States swap him for prisoners in other countries. He mentioned that he’d had offered this to “countless Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He suggested if the United States swapped him for a prisoner held in Iran it could help repair diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“Iran would love an American to torture, kill and drag through the streets while while repairing international relations, and if they gave Trump the Nobel Laureate in exchange for me it would make Trump look good in the eyes of the Nobel Prisecommittee, while disposing of his worst enemy,” he said.
“Please trade me for one, so they all know they are not forgotten and left to die,” he continued.
Leading up to the trial, Routh made a similar request.
In September 2024, Routh hid outside the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club before a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle poking through the fence. The agent fired at Routh before he fled and was eventually captured.
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