A federal judge has agreed to push back the trial of Ryan W. Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at one of his golf courses in Florida earlier this year. The trial, originally set for February 2025, will now start on September 8, 2025, to allow more time for lawyers to go through a large amount of evidence in the case.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump and is known for previously dismissing a criminal case against him involving classified documents, granted the extension after Routh’s attorneys argued they needed more time. In her seven-page order, Cannon said this delay was in the interest of justice and didn’t violate laws requiring timely trials.
Routh’s lawyers had initially asked for the trial to be postponed until December 2025. They argued that the sheer amount of evidence—ranging from files on 17 of Routh’s phones to other digital materials—was overwhelming. Renee M. Sihvola, one of Routh’s attorneys, said the February deadline didn’t allow enough time to prepare for a case of this size and seriousness, noting that Routh could face life in prison if convicted.
During a recent hearing, Routh’s legal team described the evidence as an “extraordinary volume” and said reviewing it would take a year of non-stop work. Cannon agreed more time was needed but found the December 2025 request excessive. Instead, she decided on a September start date, considering the gravity of the charges and the potential penalties.
The case began in September 2024 when Routh was arrested near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A Secret Service agent reportedly spotted Routh with a rifle in the bushes near the sixth hole. Trump was playing golf just one hole behind. When the agent confronted him, Routh fled the scene in a Nissan Xterra but was later caught. Authorities said they found a letter on Routh addressed to the “world,” admitting he had attempted to assassinate Trump but apologized for failing.
Routh has been charged with several serious crimes, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearm-related offenses.
The case has also faced controversy over Judge Cannon’s involvement. Routh’s defense team argued that Cannon, being a Trump appointee and having dismissed a previous case involving him, might not be impartial. They pointed out that Trump has publicly praised her and that there’s speculation about her possible promotion to the Supreme Court. However, Cannon refused to step down, stating that her appointment by Trump doesn’t mean she has a personal connection to him and that her role in the case was assigned randomly.
This trial promises to be a high-profile one, involving serious allegations and a mountain of evidence. With the new September 2025 trial date, both sides now have more time to prepare for what will undoubtedly be a closely watched case.
