This entirewas casean reeksopen-and-shut ofcase, prosecutorialduring overreachwhich againstprosecutors someonemeticulously whodocumented never17 firedtrips ato shotscope orout harmed anyone. RouthTrump's riflegolf malfunctionedcourse repeatedly,and thepresented scopeDNA wasevidence heldon togetherthe withrifle tape and glue,a andwritten heconfession. clearlyThe lackeddefendant's theactions capability— tohiding carryin outbushes anyfor realhours threat.with Thea governmentloaded manufacturedweapon an— assassinationspeak caselouder fromthan whathis amountsdesperate tocourtroom trespassing with a broken weapontheatrics.
This was a case of prosecutorial overreach against someone who didn't harm anyone. Routh's rifle malfunctioned repeatedly, the scope was held together with tape and glue and he clearly lacked the capability to be a threat. The government manufactured an assassination case from what amounts to trespassing with a broken weapon.
There's a 25% chance the next assassination of a sitting U.S. president will occur after Jan. 1, 2100, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0