Federal prosecutors are alleging that Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump while he was golfing last September, also tried to acquire an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot down Trump’s plane.
The allegations were made in a court filing on Monday, in which the government said Routh attempted to “purchase the devices online from an associate Routh believed to be a Ukrainian with access to military weapons.”
“‘Send me an rpg [rocket propelled grenade] or stinger and I will see what we can do,’” the court document claimed Routh said.
“I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected,” Routh allegedly told his associate.
The government also says that Routh was looking to purchase a .50 caliber rifle the same month, which would have given him a higher-power rifle than the one authorities found him with outside the golf course in September.
Prosecutors wrote that Routh hoped to buy the rifle at a gun show, but his contact wasn’t able to secure him one until after the alleged assassination attempt.
Routh is suspected of hiding in bushes with a gun near Trump International, within 500 yards of Trump, who was the Republican presidential nominee at the time.
The rifle was spotted in the tree line by one of Trump’s Secret Service members, resulting in the agent opening fire at the suspect, who did not fire back. The suspect fled by car, and about 50 miles north of the course, Routh was detained.
The Secret Service says Routh did not have a line of sight of Trump, who was a few holes behind the agent who opened fire.
Prosecutors have alleged that Routh plotted to kill Trump for weeks before his eventual arrest.
Routh’s defense has asked the judge to suppress statements from the eyewitness who identified him to police as the suspect. Law enforcement has said that statement was critical in finding and charging Routh.
His defense alleges police induced or were “impermissibly suggestive” when talking with the witness. The legal team also claims police created a situation in which an “irreparable misidentification” would occur.
Routh’s trial is currently scheduled for Sept. 8, 2025.