Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Sunday night that the state will be launching its own investigation into the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his Trump International Golf Club. The announcement followed a shooting incident at the West Palm Beach golf course earlier in the day.
“The State of Florida will be conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club,” DeSantis posted on X at 8:31 p.m. “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee.”
The Hill reports:
Trump was playing golf in West Palm Beach when Secret Service agents, posted at a hole nearby, spotted a man with a rifle push the firearm’s muzzle through the perimeter of the course, authorities told the media. The rifle was sticking through the bushes, between 300 and 500 yards away.
A Secret Service agent fired at the man, who dropped the AK-47-style rifle and fled in a car. Secret Service officials contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office around 1:30 p.m., prompting authorities to immediately seal off the area, county Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
Authorities eventually tracked down the man traveling from Palm Beach County into Martin County on I-95 after a witness captured a photograph of the individual’s vehicle and he was apprehended at the scene, Bradshaw said. An AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks and a GoPro were found in the bushes where the suspect was spotted, he added.
The Trump campaign and authorities quickly announced the former president was “safe” following the incident.
According to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, the alleged shooter, Ryan Routh, remained calm and emotionless when stopped by law enforcement. “He never asked, ‘What is this about?’” Snyder remarked. “Obviously, law enforcement with long rifles, blue lights, a lot going on. He never questioned it.”
Routh claimed to be a recruiter for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, which raises volunteers to fight against Russia. In June 2022, Newsweek Romania interviewed Routh while he was in Ukraine, where he discussed his alleged efforts to recruit soldiers for the unit.
However, the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine has denied any connection to Routh. In a statement, the Legion clarified that Routh, a former construction worker from North Carolina, had “never been part of, associated with or linked” to the organization “in any capacity.”
Evelyn Aschenbrenner, a U.S. citizen who worked with the International Legion for two years, also confirmed Routh’s lack of involvement. Speaking to Newsweek from Kyiv, Aschenbrenner said she had been in contact with Routh since 2022 and described him as “delusional and a liar.”
READ NEXT: Official Linked To Trump Assassination Briefing Deleted Anti-Trump Posts Under Pressure
How about they find out who hired him?
I’m still with president Trump. Been very busy lately and not able to participate. Glad Trump survived yet another nut case attempt on his life. I just deleted several thousand emails witout looking at them.
I wish there was a way I could get off some email lists. I simply don’t have time to deal with all that. My wife has stopped driving and I have to take her to all her Dr. appointments, plus do about all the chores she used to do.