Aileen Cannon Grants Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt a Trial Delay

What’s New

Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida, will not be tried until September.

Why It Matters

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted in an order obtained by Newsweek for Routh’s trial to begin September 8 instead of the previously scheduled February 10. Routh has pleaded not guilty.

“The trial is set to begin during the two-week period commencing on September 8, 2025,” the court documents reads, noting that the continuance “does not amount to ‘unreasonable delay.'”

In July, Cannon, a Trump appointee, dismissed all federal charges against the president-elect in his Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, determining that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally designated to spearhead Trump’s prosecution.

Routh’s attorneys had previously asked Cannon in court documents for the trial date to be “no earlier than December 2025,” citing an “extraordinary volume of discovery” and “logistical difficulties” associated with Routh’s confinement in the Federal Detention Center in Miami.

According to court documents, Routh owned 17 cellphones as well as numerous other electronic devices. There are also hundreds of hours of police body camera and surveillance videos that have been provided to the defense.

The prosecuting attorneys argued for a “prompter trial to respect the rights of victims and curtail” Routh’s “ongoing attempts to taint the jury pool.”

What To Know

Routh was seen pointing a rifle through the fence of Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, and did not fire any shots before leaving the scene, police said. Trump was playing golf on the course at the time and was unharmed.

According to authorities, before Routh was able to spot Trump, he was seen by a Secret Service agent, at whom he aimed his rifle—and the agent opened fire—causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee.

He was arrested shortly after while driving on a nearby interstate and is being held without bail in Miami.

On September 24, a grand jury in the Southern Florida District charged Routh with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; possession of brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; assault of a federal officer; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The trial was initially set to begin November 18 of this year. It was continued for 90 days “due to the ongoing nature of the reactive investigation and the voluminous nature of discovery.”

Additional discovery, including body camera footage and interviews as well as jail communications, was filed on December 20.

What Happens Next

With Cannon’s new ruling, “any notice of an insanity defense” or evidence of Routh having a “mental condition” is due by February 3. If Routh’s legal team requests a scene visit, it must occur before February 27.

A status conference will be held at 11 a.m. March 7 in the Fort Pierce Division, and exhibit and witness lists are due by July 28.

A pretrial conference is now set for 11 a.m. August 8, with the final pretrial conference scheduled for 11 a.m. September 2.