Public defenders for Ryan Routh, the person accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Trump at certainly one of his Florida golf programs, requested a federal choose to delay his felony trial over an “extraordinary volume” of discovery with simply two months to go.
The attorneys mentioned getting ready a “case of this magnitude” for trial couldn’t be completed nicely by the established Feb. 10 trial date, particularly as they proceed work on different circumstances. They requested the choose to push the trial again by 10 months, till December 2025.
“Proceeding with the scheduled trial or anytime soon thereafter — on charges punishable by life imprisonment — would result in a miscarriage of justice,” public defenders Kristy Militello and Renee Sihvola wrote in a courtroom submitting late Sunday night time.
Routh faces 5 fees, together with counts saying he tried to assassinate a serious political candidate whereas possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial quantity regardless of being a convicted felon. He has pleaded not responsible.
Prosecutors say Routh plotted to kill Trump as he golfed at Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seaside, Fla., on Sept. 15, staking out the perimeter of the previous president’s course close to its sixth gap for about 12 hours till he was observed and fled.
Within the new submitting, Routh’s public defenders mentioned the federal government’s discovery manufacturing solely turned accessible on Nov. 19, greater than 4 months after his indictment. Two different batches have been largely made out there by Saturday, and discovery stays ongoing, they mentioned.
The invention thus far consists of digital knowledge downloaded from 18 telephones, three computer systems, three tablets and 5 storage disks, along with skilled analyses, cellphone firm data, 3,000 pictures and different proof.
Routh has not but been in a position to view all of it, they mentioned.
“The discovery in this case is expansive,” Militello and Sihvola mentioned. “Just one terabyte has the capacity to hold text files equivalent to the information contained in enough books to fill twelve floors of a typical academic library. This case involves several terabytes of discovery materials and over nine expert witnesses.”
Prosecutors mentioned they are going to be ready for trial in February however don’t oppose a “reasonable” delay. Nonetheless, a continuance till December 2025 is just not affordable, they mentioned.
U.S. District Choose Aileen Cannon, who’s overseeing the case, set a listening to for Wednesday to debate the matter. She ordered the federal government to reply to Routh’s movement by Tuesday.
