Aileen Cannon Permits Self-Represented Defendant, Ryan Routh, to Call Former Marine Sniper to Challenge DOJ’s Claims About Weapon and Position
In a victory for Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in Florida, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has ruled against the Justice Department’s motion to exclude an expert witness from testifying on his behalf.
Routh, who is representing himself, plans to call Michael McClay, a former Marine sniper instructor, to challenge the government’s assertions about his alleged “sniper ‘hide'” and the functionality of the rifle he is accused of using.
READ: Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Could Face Life In Florida For Injuries To 6-Year-Old Girl
The DOJ had argued to bar McClay’s testimony, which would counter the government’s own expert witness, an FBI special agent.
Judge Cannon, however, found “significant overlap” in the proposed testimonies, stating that it would be inappropriate to fully exclude McClay as a witness.
McClay’s testimony is expected to focus on Routh’s “activities and positioning” and the rifle’s performance, including claims that it jammed after firing just two shots in a test.
READ: Suspect In Trump Assassination Attempt In Florida Identified As Ryan Wesley Routh
Routh, who faces charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, is scheduled to go to trial in September.
The ruling comes after Cannon recently granted Routh’s request to represent himself, despite her own warnings about the challenges of doing so.
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