ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump will not be tried in South Florida until September 2025, a federal judge ruled this week.
Ryan Roth’s trial will begin on Sept. 8 instead of the previously scheduled Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon said in an order issued Monday.
Roth, 58, a Hawaii resident, has pleaded not guilty.
Roth’s lawyers had asked the judge to postpone the trial until next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to present an insanity defense.
Roth owns 17 cell phones and numerous other electronic devices, and there are hundreds of hours of police body cameras and surveillance video that were provided to the defense, Roth’s lawyers argued during a hearing two weeks ago in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Cannon said in her order that she wanted to err on the side of giving more time given the seriousness of the charges, but that starting the trial no later than December would be excessive. She said the September trial date did not constitute an “unreasonable delay.”
Any insanity defense or any motion regarding Roth’s mental competency must be filed by early February, the judge said. Any visit to the site of the assassination attempt must take place before the end of February.
Prosecutors say Roth methodically planned to kill Trump for several weeks before aiming his gun through the bushes while Trump was playing golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his country club in West Palm Beach. Before Trump’s appearance, Roth was spotted by a Secret Service agent. Roth allegedly pointed his gun at the agent, who opened fire, prompting Roth to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot. Prosecutors say he left behind a note describing his intentions.
He was arrested a short time later while driving on a nearby highway.
Roth’s charge of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate carries a penalty of life imprisonment if convicted. Other charges include assault on a federal officer and three firearms charges. He is being held without bail in federal prison in Miami.
Roth’s arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during an election rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service acknowledged the failures that led to the shooting, but said security worked as it should have to thwart the potential Florida attack.
