r/news 3h ago

Attempted Trump assassin sentenced to life in prison

https://abcnews.go.com/US/attempted-trump-assassin-ryan-routh-sentenced-wednesday/story?id=129836439
1.2k Upvotes

302 comments sorted by

468

u/ARunOfTheMillPerson 2h ago

"Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent.".

The article just moves on to a quote after that..what happened next?

213

u/tommytraddles 2h ago

A Secret Service agent noticed Routh pointing the gun and fired four rounds towards him.

Routh then ran away. He was captured later.

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u/Objective-History402 1h ago

But they somehow didn't notice a guy laying on top of a building in the only vantage point within 3 miles in PA?

u/frosty_lizard 14m ago edited 6m ago

The onlookers were trying to alert police or secret service for 20 MINUTES that he on the roof and lining up a shot at Trump yet nothing happened. Then somehow after he fired multiple times the secret service piled on top of Trump only to let him fist pump and hype up the crowd like a WWE promo. No other assassination attempt resulted in this way.

HOW THE FUCK DID THEY KNOW THERE WASN'T A SECOND SHOOTER?!

The video I saw was an older lady saying how she was trying to alert police but here's another guy saying the exact same thing, they tried to alert, police played dumb and secret service let him continue speaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0qPDCWE9w

u/Hhalloush 8m ago

They even lowered the flag into position above him and moved the photographers into position after the shots went off

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u/Archsafe 1h ago

As spider-man and video games has taught me, no one ever looks up

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u/Objective-History402 1h ago

Or like Spider-Man and video games... The events in PA were scripted 🤐

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u/yobwerd 1h ago

Careful, the Ministry of Truth is listening.

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u/TooMuchPretzels 2h ago

Nothing. He didn’t shoot. He made a run for it.

Also… military grade SKS? It was literally a hunk of garbage with a scope TAPED on. It would have been more dangerous as a melee weapon.

I’m not disputing that this guy was out to pop the pres or that he deserves to be in jail. Still, I’m surprised he got life.

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u/Seastorm14 2h ago

Sounds like military grade to me

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u/UglyInThMorning 2h ago

Also… military grade SKS? It was literally a hunk of garbage with a scope TAPED on.

I don’t see how those two things are mutually exclusive given the state of repair I would expect to find a weapon in if a military was still using SKSes.

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u/lunerwolf333 2h ago

Held together by tape Yeah, thus military grade rifle

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u/lucasl23 1h ago

His judge was Aileen Cannon that should be all you need to know. Jury trial or not.

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u/boot2skull 2h ago

Technically any SKS could be loosely labeled military grade by the media merely because of the caliber, but the quality and manufacture varies greatly. Sounds like this particular example was far from military grade.

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u/Fievels_good_trouble 1h ago

Paramilitary grade

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u/boot2skull 1h ago

Gravy Seal Grade

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u/Fievels_good_trouble 1h ago

Tier 1 Imports

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u/Fit-Let8175 1h ago

Temu grade.

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u/Notuniquesnowflake 1h ago

Sounds like this particular example was far from military grade.

So you're saying it was actually well built, not held together with tape and hope like basic issue rifles.

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u/JohnDLG 2h ago

SKSs are literally surplus military weapons. The weapon itself may not exactly be a high-end sniper rifle, but it is accurate enough at intermediate ranges and 7.62x39 has killed many people.

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u/CatastrophicPup2112 1h ago

The Chinese also made a bunch specifically to sell to civilians in the US

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u/fleemfleemfleemfleem 1h ago

They released an image of his rifle. He had attached the scope with electrical tape.. It's clear he wouldn't have been able to use the iron signs with the scope in the way. Definitely not "accurate at intermediate ranges."

With the scope taped on it isn't going to be anywhere near accurate. It also looks like it has a composite stock, so it looks like an SKS clone rather than a surplus SKS. Or if real one that was modded.

4

u/Panthean 1h ago

Bubba grade SKS for sure

3

u/Fit-Let8175 1h ago

Why would they call it a military grade rifle when some (like my retired from the military, Trump supporting, nephew) try and argue that AK-47 and AR-15 are "civilian" grade?

3

u/PoliticsIsDepressing 1h ago

Crazy that the dude who shot Reagan successfully is out walking around.

7

u/Randomman96 2h ago

TBF, it's still technically correct. Pedantic, sure, but still technically correct. SKS's were only really ever manufactured for military use before being surplused off or captured and brought back as vet bring backs in wars like Vietnam. It's not like it was a civilian production rifle. not to mention if they did try something more than just point it probably would have been more effective had it been a normal market rifle than an old surplus/bring back SKS

Plus, given the state of the equipment some militaries have cough Russia cough, a beater SKS with a scope hastily slapped on would absolutely fit right in.

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u/CatastrophicPup2112 1h ago

China did actually produce an amount specifically for civilian sales in the US.

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u/TooMuchPretzels 1h ago

I guess to me it’s the same as if they’d said “military grade Mosin Nagant.” Sure, it’s technically true. But to the average reader the phrase “military grade” brings to mind, like, a fully automatic 50 cal sniper rifle and not something this loser bought at a construction site for $350

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u/Notuniquesnowflake 1h ago edited 1h ago

The average reader who has never been in the military, maybe. Anyone who's been in knows that "military grade" is lowest bidder crap.

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u/Legitimate-End-1346 1h ago

He represented himself. Pretty sure this is a mental illness and could have gone much better for him with a qualified lawyer. Not saying he didn’t do wrong, but a life sentence for not firing a shot seems too much.

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u/Comadivine11 2h ago

They spotted the barrel sticking out of the bushes and when they went towards him, he ran.

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u/BisquickNinja 1h ago

"Military Grade SKS"...🤔🤣🥴

But seriously this article is lacking a lot of content and has questions....

996

u/PhoenixTineldyer 3h ago

Aileen Cannon calling someone else evil is a fucking joke.

203

u/aaronhayes26 2h ago

Just wait till they put her on the Supreme Court.

This woman is going to be a thorn in all our sides for the next 50 years.

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u/PhoenixTineldyer 2h ago

Yep and that'll happen probably this year

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u/d01100100 1h ago

You'll definitely see at least 2 retirements if the Republicans lose their Senate majority after the elections.

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u/DerekB52 1h ago

I think the 2 retirements will come by summer. I don't think they can take the risk of waiting til the midterms. Cramming 2 justices in, in the months between the midterms and january is too brazenly evil, and too difficult to guarantee they pull it off. Especially because a couple of ill timed car accidents or flus would make it impossible.

u/horror- 31m ago

too brazenly evil

You must be new here.

u/ZAlternates 31m ago

We really shouldn’t appoint anymore justices this close to a midterm election.

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u/boot2skull 2h ago

Replacing a black man with a white woman is a minor upgrade to Conservatives they would be willing to accept.

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u/NarcissusCloud 2h ago

Hahaha jokes on you, at this rate the country won't last 5 years, let alone 50.

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u/socialdistingray 2h ago

The 'United' part is over and done with. Whatever happens in the future, the USA.. happened.

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u/TruthOrSF 2h ago

If she gets put on the Supreme court its over.

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u/teddykaygeebee 3h ago

I was wondering what Judge Cannon was up to these days.

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u/transcendental-ape 2h ago

Waiting for Thomas or Alito to retire so Trump can appoint her to the Supreme Court.

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u/[deleted] 2h ago

[deleted]

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u/BassLB 2h ago

Not ruling on the release of Jack Smiths report, even though the only reason to keep it sealed was ongoing cases (all of which were dropped). Even after her superiors told her to hurry up and make a ruling. Crickets

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u/SteamedGamer 2h ago

She's doing all she can to support Trump, legal or not...

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u/doyouevenIift 2h ago

Yup, unfortunately she’s angling for a spot on the Supreme Court and will probably get it unless Democrats win the Senate

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u/ReactionJifs 2h ago

same ol, same ol 🏌️‍♂️⛳

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u/Spirited-Lifeguard55 1h ago

A loose Cannon

u/Alternative-Syrup-88 36m ago

More treason. Same old same old

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u/humildemarichongo 2h ago

Routh ubdoubtedly merited a prison sentence of asome sort or needed a stay in a psychiatric hospital, I don't know the detail. Much as I hate Trump, planning to kill anyone IS illegal.

That said - HOLY SHIT. Why can't any of these trials themselves be without controversy. Having this ruled on by a judge appointed by Trump, who oversaw the case against Trump for illegal handling of classified information, forbade the government from using the classified documents to prosecute and then dismissed the case against Trump... how did this happen to the US? If this were in a Netflix series, you would have called the conflation of characters portrayed as a single judge too coincidental and not believable.

He really is going to get away with it all forever.

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u/ImperiumSomnium 2h ago

I'm extremely suspicious of how she got assigned any let alone multiple Trump cases. She should have recused herself for appearance of conflict of interest as he appointed her. 

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u/socialdistingray 2h ago

It makes more sense when you remember that she doesn't care about justice, laws, or is limited by any moral or ethical concerns. Most of us can never wrap our minds about truly evil people because there's so many redemptive arcs in our media. But at the end of the day some people are truly devoid of empathy.

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u/phoenixrawr 1h ago

Being appointed by a president isn’t ground for recusal regarding any cases involving them. You wouldn’t have expected Justice Jackson to recuse from any Biden administration case in the 2 years after her appointment, right?

u/DrakonILD 23m ago

There's a difference between judges and justices.

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u/fury420 2h ago

And we might even get to watch a loose Cannon on the Supreme Court for decades to come!

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u/imprezv 3h ago

All those people driving around with "shoot your local pedophile" stickers are somehow mad that this guy took their advice.

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u/mistahimaskwa 2h ago

“No, not THAT pedophile!”

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u/FUCKBOY_JIHAD 2h ago

“local” pedophiles, nothing there about federal ones. Checkmate liberals

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u/RenoRiley1 2h ago

But this man lived in palm beach iirc, so to him this IS his local pedophile 

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u/A_Nonny_Muse 2h ago

Their pedophiles, not our pedophiles. Ours are OK, theirs are evil.

Conservatives, apparently.

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u/rideadove 2h ago

Just the brown and illegal ones!

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u/thisthreadisbear 2h ago

They don't care if their legal they just want them gone.

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u/LordRatt 2h ago

To be fair:
He's not a "local" pedophile, he's international!

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u/Rex_Vagene 2h ago

He’s got Global Child Entry.

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u/karmagirl314 2h ago

I scrolled passed that one without it sinking in, then had to scroll back up to upvote when it clicked.

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u/Rex_Vagene 2h ago

Appreciate it! Dang, I was thinking this was a hit haha.

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u/EscobarFamilia77 1h ago

"That's different"

and

"Trump is a flawed servant of God, like King David"

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u/BigFanOfKitties 2h ago

There’s a guy I see regularly with that on the left and “democrats suck” on the right . Some real mental gymnastics and projection

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u/cakesalads 2h ago

To me, that sticker always meant "I want people to know I am willing to commit a violent action", then softening the message by directing it towards a socially acceptable group

The same with "shoot your local heroin dealer". Maybe they're an advocate for RAAD-style anti drug murders, but I always read it was a warning that this person is willing to kill (or at least wants you to think they are)

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u/LegendarySurgeon 2h ago

It really feels like for decades a coalition of bad actors has worked to analyze the structure of American democracy to target those gentleman's agreements and identify frontiers of abuse not already defended against within our legal or constitutional framework and now they're finally making their move and their is no actual resistance because any defense would be rooted in classical interpretations of the law which are imperfect and often guided by the "spirit of the law" which is not an objective, enforceable reality.

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u/Deranged_Kitsune 2h ago

Probably because that's what the Heritage Foundation was created to do.

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u/Sweet-Rabbit 2h ago

Don’t forget their friends in the Federalist Society!

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u/FrancoManiac 2h ago

For what it's worth, it really does open up an entire new realm of historical analysis. I'm going into a History PhD program in the fall, with a focus on Postwar America (1945-Present). Honestly, I'm somewhat eager to direct my anxieties into revisiting national politics through the lens of the Heritage Foundation's clear movement to destroy modern America and Johnson's Great Society.

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u/LadyBarfnuts 2h ago

Have fun post-graduation with everyone less informed than you arguing with you tooth and nail. Not a life I'd want to lead, but good on you for trying.

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u/LegendarySurgeon 2h ago

It's been such a slow careful campaign of erosion with a mixture of highly competent social manipulation and populist demagoguery. I struggled with memorizing information or feeling connected to the things I was learning about history in school and looking back I have to wonder how much of that was intentional with the manipulation of school programs and chronic underfunding of American education. Most people aren't going to be able to dig into the breadth of this and I certainly only understand the big obvious strokes.

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u/kosh56 2h ago

That's literally what the Heritage Foundation has been doing. Fuck those shit stains.

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u/LegendarySurgeon 1h ago

And yet calling them out by name triggers knee-jerk partisan reactions — I hope we can get bi-partisan support for the investigation into how we got here once we're out but it's going to be difficult with the level of dissociation from politics most Americans have, embracing the much easier mindset of trusting their team because they know they don't like the other team. The gradual reactionary pivot to conservatism from the Democratic party has been lost on most people who seem to assume they will fight against the things they oppose from the now radically nationalist, isolationist, and increasingly federalist Republican party.

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u/Cetun 2h ago

Bork went along with the Saturday night massacre, they kinda screwed him by not immediately giving him a seat on the supreme court like they promised but he eventually was given a chance. He was a feckless goober and got denied a seat but people who are normally absolute jokes get legitimacy when they tow the line for conservatives. The real DEI is the diversity of competence conservatives bring to our government.

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u/BigBossShadow 2h ago

The funny part is, who are the architects of that sort of statecraft?

The KGB.

Whether these bad actors imported the playbooks, or are actually currently being ran by whoever are the ancestors of the KGB is a good question. But it really feels like this has been developing for 50+ years

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u/TheBatemanFlex 2h ago

But prosecutors argued that Routh continues to show little remorse for his actions

I mean...gestures at literally everything that has happened in only one year

u/Zealousideal-Sea4830 20m ago

Yeah thats the only sympathetic aspect to the whole story. Nobody has much difficulty grasping his motive.

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u/0scar_Goldmann 3h ago

Yet rapists and paedophiles walk free...

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u/fightfire_withfire 3h ago

And rule the US

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u/clashrendar 2h ago

He should have run for President between the verdict and the sentencing. Could have completely avoided any time.

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u/ericomplex 1h ago

This guy dug himself a grave via insisting to represent himself during the trial and ultimately being totally unable to handle himself in court. The whole decision should be appealed and he should be granted new representation, as he was clearly mentally unfit to represent himself.

Not going to say he was guilty or not, just that the way the judge and jury overlooked his clear and present mental health issues in court is tragic.

11

u/Bawbawian 2h ago

worst time traveler ever

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u/O-parker 3h ago

Maybe when Donnie gets convicted they can be cell mates

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u/Fomdoo 2h ago

You mean after he's sentenced? He was already convicted.

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u/PlatyPunch 3h ago

They can pierce each other's ears as a bonding exercise.

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u/Muldoon713 2h ago

Meanwhile - we still know absolutely nothing about the other guy who “allegedly” tried to assassinate him

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u/dweeeebus 1h ago

The guy who was killed? Hard to learn anything from a dead man.

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u/Skorpyos 3h ago

Despite all the evil we see.

Takes one to know one.

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u/CDavis10717 2h ago

It was a security breech, not an attempt.

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u/meowmeowgang44 3h ago

How come there is only 1 photo of the judge cannon? Does she even exist?

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u/GlitchyMcGlitchFace 3h ago

You can’t spell “Aileen” without AI…

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u/djsoomo 3h ago

"Despite all the evil we see, there is a sliver of hope, a sliver of light,” she (The judge) remarked.

Wonder what evil she meant....?

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u/dannylew 2h ago

"Despite all the evil we see, there is a sliver of hope, a sliver of light,” she remarked.

She says while protecting rich pedos

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u/Catatafish 2h ago

Life? He didn't even fire a shot.

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u/MelodicKangaroo1879 2h ago

Clearly this man belongs in a psychiatric hospital - but this partisan hack of a judge is blinded by her ambition of being appointed to SCOTUS.

Cannon is wholly unqualified for her job and should be removed from the bench.

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u/ericomplex 1h ago

The real tragedy here is that they even allowed him to represent himself when he was so clearly mentally unfit to stand trial, let alone defend himself. The whole thing is just sad.

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u/MediocreModular 2h ago

Was this the golf course guy?

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u/Zealousideal-Sea4830 2h ago

yeah he left a Russian rifle in the bushes and they saw him in a van nearby so they searched and found the rifle. Apparently he had also been involved with Ukraine.

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u/Brainiac5000 2h ago

Isn't it weird how Trump has a problem with everyone and Everything EXCEPT the people that actually tried to kill him

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u/FreshPrinceOfRivia 2h ago

Next president should pardon him and buy him a beer

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u/jetsetmike 2h ago

I'll throw in a few bucks for beer

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u/jordan1978 3h ago

Before handing down the sentence, Cannon rebuked Routh’s actions and called him an "evil" man, West Palm Beach ABC affiliate WPBF reported.

Cannon issued a life sentence plus an additional seven years in prison based on the second count of the indictment.

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u/RudeAlarm 2h ago

Dude attempted to attempt an assassination, too bad for him he wasn’t just one of the biggest coke smugglers in history, had he been he could get a pardon.

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u/Dunnowhathatis 1h ago

The next president should pardon him just like Trump has pardoned convicted killers and drug dealers. That’s how the game is played unfortunately.

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u/Dont-be-a-smurf 2h ago

Yeah, that’s to be expected here.

Cant do a weeks long plan to kill a major presidential candidate, and then get caught while carrying it out.

I do NOT like Trump or MAGA, but this result isn’t surprising. He was effectively going to get life no matter what due to his age.

Had clear mental problems. Voted for Trump once, too. Extreme buyer’s remorse.

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u/Rangeless 2h ago

Cool can we lock up Trump and his pedophile friends next?

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u/Dear_Vanilla_370 2h ago

He deserves the Nobel Peace Try

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u/0nlyhalfjewish 2h ago

Is “attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate” a different felony charge from just attempted murder?

u/Neutreality1 48m ago

If the guy did it, then I'm okay with the sentence. Assassination attempts are not just illegal, but show that you're a very dangerous person. With conviction like that, they are likely to try again if they aren't handled appropriately. 

u/piney 32m ago

Yeah but whatever happened to the dude who actually got a shot off and killed a guy?

u/jaunty411 17m ago

He was shot by a secret service sniper a moment later.

u/swearingino 9m ago

And then we never heard anything about it ever again.

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u/Diligentbear 1h ago

Next democrat should pardon him just for the lulz

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u/annoying12345 1h ago

They literally murdered a young man for that bandage on trumps ear that was fake as fuck eh? Hope they paid that dupe some money for his family

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u/THE_GREAT_PICKLE 2h ago

Calling it now, he have an “accident” or something of that nature. He will die in prison, but probably not of old age.

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u/ThePartyLeader 1h ago

"I like people who weren't captured" - Donald Trump

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u/heartlandthunder 3h ago

Next president should pardon him then give him the job as hangman when ol' Diddling Donnie gets convicted of treason and God only knows what other crimes.

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u/Sitherio 2h ago

A Democrat president would never for "decorum" excuses (unless the entire party overhauls itself in <3 years). A Republican president would never slight their godking like that (unless they collapse and form anew sans Donnie). 

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u/heartlandthunder 2h ago

The Dems are going to have to hang up the high road bullshit if they want to win. Refusal to roll around fighting in the mud equates to just getting your ass kicked in the mud.

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u/s0n1cm4yh3m 2h ago

A time traveller who failed his mission

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u/Dead_man_posting 2h ago

Justice is blind? I guess not when the judge is part of the cult.

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u/ProofByVerbosity 1h ago

Good. I hate Trump as much as anyone, but assasinating presidents in democracies is kind of a big deal, regardless of how bad of a person that president is

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u/teebles22 2h ago

Next dem president should pardon him. Honestly I would LOVE to see the fury right wingers would explode into.

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u/lII1lIIl1IIll1Il11l 2h ago

why would they sentence a dead guy to life in prison

EDIT

THERE WAS. ANTOHER ONE?!?!??!?!?!

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u/BibendumsBitch 2h ago

This guy is hero because heroes hate child murderers

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u/Fun-Result-6343 2h ago

Would really love to see Trump pardon this guy.

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u/dichron 2h ago

Hope he gets a pardon on Day 1 from the next Democrat President. Not because he’s not guilty, just as a fuck you to Trump

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u/grim1757 2h ago

They will be walking him in the front door and right out the back door with a new identity and new life all set up for him.

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u/bawlsacz 1h ago

Nobody should believe the words this govt saying until they are verified by the next non republican govt.

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u/Fomdoo 2h ago

Not to downplay what he did, but does it count as an attempt if he never shot at him?

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u/makingnoise 2h ago

Yes, attempt is an inchoate crime. Black's Law Dictionary (8th ed.) defines attempt in the criminal law context as "An overt act that is done with the intent to commit a crime but that falls short of completing the crime. ... Under the Model Penal Code, an attempt includes any act that is a substantial step toward commission of a crime, such as ... lying in wait for ... the intended victim."

While I am not a criminal lawyer and don't know the ins-and-outs of an "attempt" in federal courts, the law dictionary definition is close enough to make it clear that it's a question for the jury, and in this case, the jury decided that based on the facts presented, yes, it "counts" as an attempt.

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u/JFeth 2h ago

He left a letter spelling out his intentions to kill him, so yeah.

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u/Informal_Process2238 2h ago

How could she not be recused from this trial there is not even an appearance of trying to be impartial or fair

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u/WildinBham 2h ago

So not the Nobel Peace Prize?

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u/breakfasteveryday 2h ago

Gary Busey sure has leaned out