The FBI and Secret Service are under scrutiny following the arrest of Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who is accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

Routh was apprehended on Sunday and charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The charges are linked to an incident where Routh allegedly attempted to target Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course.

Jeffrey Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Miami Field Office, confirmed that the bureau had received a tip about Routh in 2019.

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At a press conference on Monday, Veltri revealed that the FBI had been alerted to Routh’s status as a felon in possession of a firearm. “I can also share with you that he was the subject of a previously closed 2019 tip to the FBI where it was alleged he was a felon in possession of a firearm,” Veltri stated.

He added that the tip was followed up on, but the complainant did not verify the information, leading the FBI to pass the information to local law enforcement in Honolulu.

Routh’s criminal history includes a 2002 conviction in Greensboro, North Carolina, for having a weapon of mass death and destruction, as well as a 2010 conviction for multiple counts of possession of stolen goods.


He lived in North Carolina for most of his life before relocating to Kaaawa, Hawaii, in 2018.

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The incident at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach unfolded dramatically when Routh allegedly used an SKS rifle to target Trump.

According to reports, Routh was able to exploit security gaps around the golf course, which is known for its extensive and often unguarded perimeter.

Image Credit: © Greg Lovett / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
President Donald Trump plays golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on December 28, 2020. (GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST)

Authorities have indicated that Routh managed to position himself within 300 to 500 yards of Trump, spending approximately 12 hours in a makeshift sniper nest located just outside the fence along Summit Boulevard, a busy road adjacent to the golf club.

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Despite extensive security measures, including Secret Service protection, Routh’s approach to the course exposed vulnerabilities in the existing system.

Photographers have long noted that gaining access to view Trump at this location has been surprisingly easy.

One source cited by The New York Post highlighted the ease with which photographers can secure vantage points around the perimeter of the course, sometimes managing to capture images from as close as 75 yards away.

The source described the security measures as insufficient, noting that even when photographers are observed, they are often only briefly questioned.

The security lapses were evident as Routh reportedly used the cover of dense tropical foliage to conceal himself.

The area surrounding the golf course includes numerous gaps in the brush, allowing individuals to view the course with relative ease.

This gap in security was compounded by the fact that the Secret Service agents on site were reportedly able to see approaching photographers from a distance, which allowed those with malicious intent to potentially monitor security patterns and adjust their plans accordingly.

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The situation came to a head when Secret Service snipers spotted the barrel of Routh’s rifle poking through a chain-link fence between the sixth and seventh holes.

The agents responded by opening fire, prompting Routh to flee the scene. He was later apprehended on I-95 in Palm City, about 40 miles north of the golf course.

Routh appeared in a Florida federal court on Monday morning, wearing shackles and facing felony gun charges.

Image Credit: © THOMAS CORDY/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A caravan leaves Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on September 16, 2024, in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla. Ryan Wesley Routh was in court where he was charged with two gun-related crimes after his alleged assassination attempt on former President Trump.

The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the current security measures at Trump’s golf properties.

The Secret Service and FBI are reviewing the events and the security protocols in place to address any gaps that may have allowed Routh to get so close to Trump.

As the investigation continues, both agencies are working to ensure that future security measures are strengthened to prevent similar incidents.

The arrest of Routh underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting high-profile individuals and highlights the need for constant vigilance in security operations.

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The FBI’s handling of the 2019 tip and the Secret Service’s security lapses are under intense scrutiny as officials seek to understand how Routh was able to exploit these weaknesses.

The case will likely prompt a broader review of security practices and measures at locations frequented by high-profile individuals, including former Presidents.

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