Routh opposes protective order in Trump assassination case; says it would restrict his speech

The man prosecutors say tried to kill former President Donald Trump during a round of golf in Florida opposes a broad protective order in the case.

Attorneys for Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, said prosecutors have put forward an overly broad request for a protective order in the case. Prosecutors said they don't want Routh to turn over evidence to the media or anyone else.

Routh's team of attorneys from the Federal Public Defender's Office said they won't oppose a less restrictive order, such as the protective orders in the prosecutions that stemmed from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol.

"It would deprive Mr. Routh of his constitutional right to meaningfully participate in his own defense under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, as well as his right to free speech under the First Amendment," the defense attorneys wrote. "The Court should instead impose a more tailored protective order like those adopted in similar cases."

Federal prosecutors previously filed a motion seeking protections for discovery materials in the case that would prohibit Routh from possessing discovery materials outside the presence of his defense team unless authorized by prosecutors.

"Routh himself has proven to be someone who desires the spotlight," prosecutors wrote in the motion. "Within the past few years, Routh self-published a book in which he called for the assassination of former President Donald J. Trump; exuded condemnation towards the Former President both in public and private messages; attempted to copyright a work of fiction based on his life; drafted multiple letters addressed to various media outlets to discuss his world views; and drafted a separate letter in which he announces a $150,000 bounty for someone to complete his objective of assassinating the Former President."

Even behind bars, Routh has sought out news agencies. Prosecutors said Routh told his daughter during a phone call from jail that he wanted the addresses for news organizations. He also said that the Bureau of Prisons denied NBC's request to conduct an interview.

Federal prosecutors charged Routh with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. Routh has pleaded not guilty.