Attorney General Ashley Moody has secured an arrest warrant for Ryan Routh on charges of attempted felony murder. The charges stem from a traffic accident that severely injured a six-year-old girl, following Routh's alleged involvement in the second assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump.
Moody expressed her commitment to transparency and accountability under Governor Ron DeSantis' leadership, stating, "Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, we vowed to bring transparency and accountability to the investigation into the second assassination attempt of President Trump." She added that despite federal challenges, they discovered that Routh's actions resulted in serious injuries to the child.
Governor DeSantis criticized federal resistance to Florida's investigation, saying, "The federal government has stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn." He praised Attorney General Moody for continuing the investigation despite these obstacles.
The incident occurred on September 15 when Routh fled Trump's West Palm Beach golf course after being spotted by U.S. Secret Service members. Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies pursued him northbound on Interstate 95. During this pursuit, a car accident happened which led to significant injuries for the young victim.
In response to these events, Governor DeSantis initiated a state investigation into criminal violations related to the failed assassination attempt. However, ongoing opposition from federal agencies like the FBI prompted Attorney General Moody to file a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Despite these challenges, state prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant for Routh based on his alleged commission of domestic terrorism—a felony that resulted in severe injury to a child. This charge could lead to a life sentence if convicted.
Attorney General Moody's team submitted an 18-page affidavit detailing their findings about Routh and his activities on September 15 as part of their efforts to secure the warrant.
While federal agencies continue to resist state investigative efforts, Attorney General Moody remains determined to uphold state law through legal channels.