The U.S. Justice Department released a letter on Monday believed to have been written by would-be assassin Ryan Routh months before the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The letter promised a $150,000 bounty to anyone who assassinated Trump.
According to Fox News, the Justice Department released a letter on Monday that was obtained from a witness who claimed to have received it in a box from Routh multiple months before last Sunday’s assassination attempt against the former president at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Law enforcement officials said the unidentified witness claimed to have opened the box only after hearing of Routh’s assassination attempt against Trump.
Fox News reported that the Routh’s box contained multiple handwritten letters, ammunition, and other items. One of the letters, which was addressed “Dear World,” mentioned the assassination attempt against the former president.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” Routh wrote in the letter. “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
“Everyone across the globe from the youngest to the oldest know that Trump is unfit to be anything, much less a U.S. president,” Routh added. “U.S. presidents must at bare minimum embody the moral fabric that is America, and be kind, caring and selfless and always stand for humanity. Trump fails to understand any of [that].”
Fox News reported that investigators also discovered a book Routh wrote in 2023, titled, “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen-Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea, WWIII and the End of Humanity.” According to Justice Department documents obtained by Fox News, Routh’s book urged Iran to assassinate the former president.
The Justice Department stated, “In the book, ROUTH stated that he ‘must take part of the blame for the [person] that we elected for our next president that ended up being brainless, but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake and Iran, I apologize. You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment and the dismantling of the deal.'”
Routh has been charged by the Justice Department for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for possessing a firearm with an “obliterated serial number.” Dave Aronberg, a Florida attorney, told Fox News that the would-be assassin is expected to face additional charges, such as aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at a Secret Service agent and for making threats against the former president.
