In Routh’s vehicle, a Nissan Xterra, FBI agents found two additional license plates and six phones. One of the phones contained a Google search of how to get from Palm Beach County to Mexico. The agents also found 12 pairs of gloves, Routh’s Hawaii driver’s license, his passport and other documents. Those included a handwritten list of dates in August, September and October 2024 and venues where Trump had appeared or was expected to be present.
Trump said he wants Florida prosecutors to handle the case.
Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state has the jurisdiction to prosecute Routh for attempted murder and will be more transparent in its investigation than the federal government. Routh is the subject of three assassination investigations and could face life in prison if convicted of attempted murder.
Trump said he didn’t trust the U.S. Department of Justice or FBI as he races against Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House in November.
“It’s very difficult to trust the Biden/Harris DOJ/FBI to investigate the assassination attempts, due to Election Interference and the FAKE CASES brought against me, including their control over local D.A.s and A.G.s. …” Trump said in the statement. “If the DOJ and FBI cannot do their job honestly and without bias, and hold the aspiring assassin responsible to the full extent of the Law, Governor Ron DeSantis and State of Florida have already agreed to take the lead on the investigation and prosecution.”
Trump said the Florida charges were “more serious than the ones the FBI has announced.”