What's New
The suspect involved in an assassination attempt against President-elect Donald Trump is facing new charges related to a crash during a traffic stop.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced that she has secured an arrest warrant for Ryan Wesley Routh, who is already in custody on federal charges related to the assassination attempt.
Moody said she is pursuing an attempted felony murder charge stemming from a crash that left a 6-year-old girl seriously injured after authorities shut down traffic on Interstate 95 while attempting to apprehend the suspect. A spokesperson for Moody stated that prosecutors will file the charge once Routh is transferred to state custody.
Why It Matters
The state's investigation found that the multivehicle crash occurred about 30 minutes after Routh's arrest on I-95, but Moody asserted the incident was a direct result of his actions.
A representative for Routh's attorney declined to comment to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Routh is currently being held on federal charges, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and multiple gun offenses. He has pleaded not guilty.
What To Know
Prosecutors allege that Routh spent weeks methodically planning to assassinate Trump, taking aim with a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf at his West Palm Beach country club on September 15. Before Trump appeared, a Secret Service agent spotted Routh, who then allegedly turned his rifle toward the agent. The agent opened fire, prompting Routh to drop the weapon and flee without firing a shot.
Routh's arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. While the Secret Service admitted to security failures ahead of that incident, the agency stated that its protocols successfully prevented the potential attack in Florida.
DeSantis' Investigation
Days after the assassination attempt in Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state would launch its own investigation alongside the federal probe, with prosecutors seeking the most severe charges allowed under state law.
It's common for state and federal law enforcement agencies to conduct parallel investigations, as each can pursue charges that may not be available under the other's jurisdiction.
What People Are Saying
The girl involved in the crash allegedly caused by Routh, who was traveling with her family, sustained serious injuries, according to Moody.
Moody told reporters: "When you couple those terrible injuries, together with his other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case."
What's Next
Earlier this month, a congressional task force released its final report into the investigation of the assassination attempts against Trump.
Among the highlights of task force's report is a call for reforms to the United States Secret Service (USSS). Recommendations include scaling back protection for foreign leaders during peak election season and exploring the possibility of moving the agency out of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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