Trump Jr.: Justice Department put father's life 'even more at risk' by releasing bounty letter

Donald Trump Jr., said Monday the Justice Department releasing the "bounty" letter from his father's second would-be assassin put former President Donald Trump's "life even more at risk."

Ryan Routh, who faces federal charges in connection with an apparent assassination attempt against Trump earlier this month, wrote a note months prior, indicating his intentions to kill GOP presidential nominee, according to a court filing released Monday.

Trump, Jr. said that releasing the letter is dangerous.

“For the life of me, I do not understand why the Kamala-Biden DOJ is publicly releasing a letter from Ryan Wesley Routh announcing a $150,000 bounty on my dad’s head,” Trump, Jr. told The Daily Wire. “They’re putting his life even more at risk with this reckless decision.”

The letter is part of evidence federal prosecutors submitted in a hearing Monday to support continuing Routh's pretrial detention. 

Routh has not been charged with attempted assassination. 

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you," reads 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." 

Later in the Day, the former president weight in on the matter, accusing federal law enforcement of "mishandling and downplaying" the second assassination attempt. 

"The Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Department of Justice and FBI are mishandling and downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July," Trump said. "The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist. 

So far, Routh has been charged only on two federal counts – including one on owning a gun as a felony. He has so far not been charged with attempted assassination. 

Routh is allegedly the second attempted assassin of Trump, after Thomas Crooks shot Trump in the ear during a July rally in Buter, Pa. One man was killed and two others were injured during that shooting.