Defendant Ryan Routh’s courtroom soliloquy cut short; cross-examination begins with philosophical questions to Secret Service agent
In a surreal courtroom scene, a federal judge abruptly halted the opening statement of defendant Ryan Routh, who began his defense not with legal arguments but with a rambling discourse on human history, Vladimir Putin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The unusual exchange took place on Thursday, with Judge Aileen Cannon repeatedly attempting to rein in Routh, who is accused of illegally possessing a firearm at President Donald Trump’s Florida golf course.
Routh’s opening remarks started 5.2 million years ago and delved into the nature of human existence and “hate,” telling jurors that “modern trials seem to eliminate all that is human.”
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He asserted that his case hinged on “intent,” yet his statements quickly veered into a critique of global leaders, prompting Judge Cannon to interrupt.
“It’s hard for me to predict where you will go, sir,” she said, cautioning him against making a “mockery of the dignity of this courtroom.”
Despite the warning, Routh continued his philosophical musings, referencing human inventions and declaring, “That is America.”
Judge Cannon again intervened, concluding his opening remarks after he repeatedly failed to connect his statements to the case’s evidence.
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The trial took another strange turn as Routh, now conducting his own cross-examination, began questioning Secret Service agent Robert Fercano, the witness who discovered him hiding in the bushes.
Routh’s first question to the agent, who testified he feared for his life and Trump’s, was, “is it good to ‘be alive’?” Fercano replied in the affirmative, to which Routh responded, “Ride on.”
The cross-examination continued with Routh referring to himself as “the defendant” and questioning Fercano about the specifics of the encounter, including the height of bulletproof plates on the fence and the best position for a sniper.
Fercano emphasized that a “barrel of a gun” was pointed at his face. The agent testified that while there was no physical harm, he has to “live with the fact that this individual pointed a weapon at my face.”
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Fercano had initially mistaken Routh for a “homeless person camping out” before realizing the object in the bushes was a firearm.
The trial continues to unfold as the jury considers the events of September 15, 2024, and the competing narratives presented in court.
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