REPORT: Would-Be Trump Assassin Met With Members Of Congress In 2023

On Sunday, Ryan Wesley Routh, a convicted felon from Greensboro, North Carolina, was apprehended by Florida law enforcement after his assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach. The incident took place when Secret Service agents fired at Routh, who was spotted hiding in shrubbery near the golf course with a rifle. While Routh managed to flee initially, he was arrested later and charged in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional charges are expected to follow.

Routh, 58, has a checkered past that includes a felony conviction in 2002. However, it is his activities abroad, particularly his involvement in Ukraine, that have raised eyebrows and garnered national attention. In 2022, Routh traveled to Ukraine, where he attempted to recruit Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban. His efforts were part of a larger, uncoordinated, endeavor to bring foreign fighters into the conflict against Russia. According to reports, Routh’s social media posts revealed strong support for Ukraine’s war effort.

The situation took an even more bizarre turn when it was revealed that Routh claims to have been involved in a meeting with members of Congress in 2023. Although it remains unclear which members of Congress were present, Routh mentioned in an interview that he had scheduled a two-hour meeting in Washington, D.C., to discuss Ukraine and his attempts to recruit Afghan soldiers for the war effort. This connection has fueled speculation about whether Routh’s political ties played any role in his actions leading up to the assassination attempt.

Speaker Johnson should immediately release the names of every member of Congress who met with Ryan Routh. pic.twitter.com/olXAYB5vKF

— Joseph Pino (@JosephPino_) September 15, 2024

A 2023 report by The New York Times profiled Routh’s involvement in Ukraine, where he was seeking to transport Afghan soldiers from Iran and Pakistan to the front lines. His plans included attempts to procure forged passports and even talks of bribing corrupt officials to facilitate their passage into Ukraine. Despite his lack of military experience, Routh appeared determined to involve himself in the conflict. At one point, he even claimed he was trying to arrange a U.S. military transport flight from Iraq to Poland, though the feasibility of such a plan is questionable at best.

“We can probably purchase some passports through Pakistan, since it’s such a corrupt country,” Routh told the Times in DC.

According to the Times report, Routh had compiled a list of hundreds of Afghan soldiers whom he hoped to relocate to Ukraine. His rhetoric was often marked by urgency and frustration, as he lamented the slow pace of his efforts. Yet, those familiar with his plans described them as poorly thought out and highly unlikely to succeed. His ambitions, combined with his inexperience, led many to question his true motivations.

In light of Sunday’s events, the FBI is now investigating Routh’s past, including his connections to Ukraine and his potential ties to American political figures. While there is no direct evidence yet linking his meeting with members of Congress to the assassination attempt, the details of his political engagements are likely to come under intense scrutiny. For now, Routh remains in federal custody, and authorities are working to uncover more about his plans and motivations. The Secret Service has not yet released a full report on the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.

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