Florida charges Trump would-be assassin with attempted murder involving injured 6-year-old girl

Florida’s top prosecutor announced a felony attempted murder charge against Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump on his Palm Beach golf course in September.

The charge involves a 6-year-old girl who was seriously injured after Routh fled the golf course and was stopped by county police.

During his arrest at a traffic stop along Interstate 95 in Martin County, the young girl was injured in a car accident caused by the road closure, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Wednesday.

Sheriff’s deputies had stopped highway traffic in both directions out of concern Routh’s car contained explosives, she said.

Ms. Moody called Routh’s actions domestic terrorism that seriously injured, and could have killed, a six-year-old girl. She said the charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

“My heart breaks for the child and her family, and while we continue to seek justice for President Trump, we will fight just as hard to ensure Mr. Routh pays for the tragedy his criminal actions brought on this Florida family,” Ms. Moody said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who launched a state-led probe of Routh’s actions, said the federal government “has stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn.”

In September, Routh was indicted in federal court on a charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate. He also faces federal firearm charges.

Mr. DeSantis ordered state law enforcement to investigate Routh’s actions out of concern the Justice Department was simultaneously prosecuting Mr. Trump in two felony cases related to classified documents and election interference. Those cases have since been dropped.

Mr. DeSantis hinted at more charges against Routh when Mr. Trump takes office.

“The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed. The would-be assassin needs to face the full force of justice, and the people deserve the truth about the defendant’s history, motivations and plan,” Mr. DeSantis said.