Man charged in 2nd Trump assassination attempt wrote note months prior indicating desire to kill him

The man under arrest on federal charges in connection with an apparent attempt earlier this month to fatally shoot former President Donald Trump wrote a note months prior to the incident indicating his intentions to kill Trump, according to a court filing released Monday.

Ryan Routh, the man under arrest in connection with the apparent Sept. 15 assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club, in Palm Beach, Florida, wrote the note "several months prior," as part of a package, or box, he dropped off at a friend's house, according to the filing.

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you," read the handwritten letter. "I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job." 

According to the filing, law enforcement was contacted Sept. 18 by a civilian witness who received the box. The witness reportedly opened the box only after learning of the assassination attempt.

The letter is part of evidence being submitted by federal prosecutors in a hearing Monday to support continuing Routh's pretrial detention. Routh has not been charged with attempted assassination. 

The filing also reads: "The witness stated the box contained ammunition, a metal pipe, miscellaneous building materials, tools, four phones, and various letters."

The letter is purportedly addressed to “The World."

In the letter, Routh also said Trump, now the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, is "unfit to be anything, much less a U.S. president."

The filing shows the first page of what appears to be a longer letter.