UNITED STATES – The criminal trial of the man accused of trying to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course begins with opening statements on today with defendant, 59-year-old Ryan Routh representing himself in a proceeding set to showcase the increasing prominence of political violence in the U.S.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The trial is set to start the day after right-wing activist and influential Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University, marking the latest instance of political violence in the U.S.
