DeSantis ‘Concerned’ About Trump Apparent Assassination Attempt Probe

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he is “concerned” about the federal investigation of the suspected second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and is pushing forward with a state probe.

Secret Service agents on Sunday opened fire after spotting a rifle believed to belong to 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh peeking through a fence just outside Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, authorities said.

While Trump was unharmed, the incident arrived only two months after a bullet grazed the former president’s ear during as assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, in which one spectator was killed and two other people were seriously injured.

The FBI said that it was “investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination” after the Sunday’s incident unfolded. The Secret Service is working with the FBI on the probe, while Florida officials are also investigating.

DeSantis, who endorsed Trump’s 2024 election bid following a contentious primary challenge, claimed during a Fox News interview on Thursday that federal officials were not cooperating with Florida’s investigation.

“No, they’re not being cooperative,” DeSantis told host Laura Ingraham. “Yes, I am concerned. For example, we were rebuffed, our investigators were rebuffed just going to the fence line outside of Trump International Golf Club.”

“I think they’ve taken the position they don’t want the state of Florida to be involved,” he added,” “But here’s the thing: There were multiple violations of Florida law … So, we have duty to investigate this.”

DeSantis went on to say that he would “inform the public about how this happened,” while promising to uncover the motive, “associations” and “beliefs” of the suspect.

Newsweek reached out for comment to the FBI and Secret Service via email on Thursday.

DeSantis announced on Tuesday that he was opening a state probe into the apparent assassination attempt, citing state laws while arguing during a news conference that “it is not in the best interest of our state or nation to have the same federal agencies prosecuting Donald Trump lead this investigation.”

Special counsel Jack Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland and has indicted Trump on federal felony charges of illegally attempting to subvert the 2020 election. However, the FBI and Secret Service are not prosecuting the former president.

Routh has been charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, charges that carry a combined penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Additional federal charges could be coming soon.

DeSantis said on Tuesday that prosecuting Routh at the state level could result in a stronger case, arguing that the “offense merits life in prison” and vowing to make Routh “accountable” in Florida.

Republicans have repeatedly claimed that the Trump assassination attempt and the suspected second attempt were caused by rhetoric from Democrats calling the former president “a threat to democracy.”

However, there is no evidence to support the claim and Trump has repeatedly used the same line of attack against Democrats, calling Vice President Kamala Harris a “threat to democracy” as recently as Wednesday.

Update 09/19/24, 9:34 p.m.: This article was updated to add context and further information.