Trump assassination conspirator attempted to obtain rocket launcher from Ukraine
Ryan Routh is accused of plotting to use weapons to kill Donald Trump during the former president's campaign, according to a recently released court document. The pro-Ukraine activist sought to acquire an anti-tank grenade launcher and a Stinger...
TroibNews 
Ryan Routh is accused of plotting to use weapons to kill Donald Trump during the former president's campaign, according to a recently released court document.
The pro-Ukraine activist sought to acquire an anti-tank grenade launcher and a Stinger anti-aircraft missile. Routh was arrested in September after US Secret Service agents discovered him armed with a rifle near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Court records indicate Routh considered various options involving much heavier weaponry.
A motion submitted by the US Justice Department to the Florida Southern District Court reveals that, in August 2024, Routh reached out to an associate whom he believed to be Ukrainian and able to access military weapons. Investigative journalist Ken Silva published the document on the Scribd platform this week.
A convicted felon, Routh previously attempted to join the Ukrainian military in 2022 and later tried to recruit former Afghan commandos to assist in the conflict with Russia.
The court document states that Routh allegedly communicated his intentions to kill Trump, who was still a presidential candidate, through an encrypted messaging app. He expressed concerns that Trump's election would be “not good for Ukraine” and urged his Ukrainian contact to “send [him] an RPG or a Stinger.” An RPG refers to a Russian shoulder-fired anti-tank grenade launcher, a common weapon in post-Soviet countries.
In one of his messages, Routh stated, “I need the equipment so that Trump don’t [sic] get elected.” He further suggested to his contact that obtaining the weapons should not be difficult, claiming, “you are at war and those items [get] lost and destroyed daily – one missing would not be noticed.”
Despite his attempts, Routh reportedly was unable to acquire the grenade launcher or the Stinger missile. He is anticipated to stand trial in September 2025, facing a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The pro-Ukraine activist sought to acquire an anti-tank grenade launcher and a Stinger anti-aircraft missile. Routh was arrested in September after US Secret Service agents discovered him armed with a rifle near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Court records indicate Routh considered various options involving much heavier weaponry.
A motion submitted by the US Justice Department to the Florida Southern District Court reveals that, in August 2024, Routh reached out to an associate whom he believed to be Ukrainian and able to access military weapons. Investigative journalist Ken Silva published the document on the Scribd platform this week.
A convicted felon, Routh previously attempted to join the Ukrainian military in 2022 and later tried to recruit former Afghan commandos to assist in the conflict with Russia.
The court document states that Routh allegedly communicated his intentions to kill Trump, who was still a presidential candidate, through an encrypted messaging app. He expressed concerns that Trump's election would be “not good for Ukraine” and urged his Ukrainian contact to “send [him] an RPG or a Stinger.” An RPG refers to a Russian shoulder-fired anti-tank grenade launcher, a common weapon in post-Soviet countries.
In one of his messages, Routh stated, “I need the equipment so that Trump don’t [sic] get elected.” He further suggested to his contact that obtaining the weapons should not be difficult, claiming, “you are at war and those items [get] lost and destroyed daily – one missing would not be noticed.”
Despite his attempts, Routh reportedly was unable to acquire the grenade launcher or the Stinger missile. He is anticipated to stand trial in September 2025, facing a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
