Ryan Routh, the man arrested Sunday after hiding in the bushes of former President Donald Trump’s golf course with an SKS-style rifle pointed at the green, identified himself as an atheist when he was booked into the Palm Beach County, Florida, jail.
Mr. Routh, 58, was charged in federal court with two felony firearm violations and likely faces additional state and federal charges following the incident. The FBI said he was trying to assassinate the former president.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office released booking information Thursday, including a mugshot of a smirking Mr. Routh. He identified himself as married and an atheist. The booking record indicates he wasn’t using alcohol or drugs when he was arrested and is 6 feet tall and 140 pounds.
He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday.
Mr. Routh spent 12 hours hiding with the SKS semiautomatic in the bushes Sunday along the sixth green of Trump International Golf Course, where Mr. Trump and guests were playing. A Secret Service agent ahead of the GOP presidential nominee’s party spotted Mr. Routh’s rifle protruding from the treeline and fired several shots at him. Mr. Routh fled without shooting and was arrested at a traffic stop later in the day.
He has a long rap sheet that includes a 2002 conviction in North Carolina for having a weapon of mass destruction.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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