Ryan Wesley Routh, who has been charged with gun offenses with a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, allegedly sent a series of "hostile" and "manipulative" messages to Ukraine's International Legion over two years, according to a former volunteer. Routh, 58, was apprehended on Sunday following the attempt to shoot the 78-year-old former president at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The FBI confirmed that Trump was safe after the incident, which they described as an apparent assassination attempt.
In a federal court appearance on Monday, Routh faced charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He is scheduled to return to court on September 23 for a bond hearing and could face additional charges.
Since 2022, Routh, a former construction worker from Greensboro, North Carolina, had claimed to be a recruiter for Ukraine’s International Legion, a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. However, the organization denied any association with him. Evelyn Aschenbrenner, a U.S. citizen and former recruiter for the Legion, described Routh as "delusional" and a "liar," citing a series of problematic interactions and messages exchanged between them.
Aschenbrenner recounted multiple instances where Routh's behavior was erratic, including attempts to recruit individuals and bypass security protocols. In one notable encounter, Routh insisted on getting a foreign individual across the border to Ukraine despite heightened security due to Russian strikes. Aschenbrenner noted that Routh's behavior suggested he was disconnected from reality and believed he was uniquely positioned to help Ukraine.
Routh also made troubling statements about Ukraine’s situation and his perceived role in it. His online posts and interactions indicated a shifting political stance and a fixation on his self-proclaimed mission to assist Ukraine. The International Volunteer Center (IVC) has denied any connection to Routh, stating that he was never affiliated with their organization.
Routh's account on X (formerly Twitter) has been suspended. Before the suspension, he had posted numerous times in support of Ukraine and expressed disappointment with former President Trump, reflecting his evolving political views.
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