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'We need answers on this:' DeSantis to sign order for state jurisdiction over Trump assassination attempt

By FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  September 17, 2024 10:46am EDT
Florida
FOX 13 News

FDLE investigating Trump assassination attempt

Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the Attorney General's office to launch an investigation, just two days after Ryan Routh was chased from a hiding spot at Trump National Golf Club by Secret Service gunfire.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis announced he would sign an executive order expediting the state's investigation into Sunday's attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump. 

He spoke in West Palm Beach on Tuesday morning, joined alongside state authorities. 

DeSantis said he's turned the investigation into the assassination attempt over to state authorities led by Attorney General Ashley Moody. He said he doesn't believe it's "in the best interest" of the state to have the "same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump leading this investigation."

DeSantis speaks on Trump assassination attempt

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, two days after an assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump led to the arrest of one man.

Ryan Routh, 58, was taken into custody and arrested in West Palm Beach after Secret Service agents spotted him pushing the muzzle of an AK-47 through a chain-linked fence outside of Trump's golf course where he was playing on Sunday. 

WATCH: Body cam video shows deputies arresting Ryan Routh, alleged suspect in Trump assassination attempt

Routh appeared in a Florida courtroom on Monday morning where he was charged with federal gun crimes including: 

  • Possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon
  • Possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

DeSantis said on Tuesday that he plans to direct state authorities to prosecute Routh to the fullest extent of the law, seeking an attempted murder charge. 

"The State of Florida has jurisdiction over the most serious straightforward offense, which is attempted murder," DeSantis said. "I've directed state agencies to move expeditiously and provide full transparency to the public."

DeSantis said Routh committed offenses in multiple judicial circuits across the state, including Palm Beach, Martin, and perhaps Broward counties. That would put Routh's prosecution under the purview of the statewide prosecutor, then, according to DeSantis, who would work with Moody. 

"I think this is an offense that should merit a life in prison," DeSantis said. "And if we're not going to go to the fullest extent of the law, you're lowering the threshold to which someone in the future might try to do something like this."

"So, I think it's really important for the people of Florida but also for our country that we pursue the most serious charges that are on the books to hold this guy accountable. And to say you're going to do a couple of gun charges, that is not going to be sufficient to do it." 

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