vlog

Skip to content
NOWCAST vlog News at 6am Weekday Mornings
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Get the Facts: Who is Ryan Routh? | Investigating man's history linked to attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Get the Facts: Who is Ryan Routh? | Investigating man's history linked to attempted assassination of Donald Trump
The suspect. Ryan Routh is only facing weapons charges because he didn't fire any shots at the former president. And we're learning through social media that Routh is very vocal about politics and critical of politicians regardless of their party. That's Ryan Wesley Routh standing outside the US Capitol more than *** year ago. The picture from *** linkedin post. Ralph also posted *** picture of himself in Ukraine's capital. *** self proclaimed human rights and political activist, Ralph lived in North Carolina most of his life, working as *** contractor and owning *** roofing business. He moved to Hawaii in 2018 where he owns *** business with one of his sons that builds storage units and tiny houses in Hawaii. Ralph was on Twitter writing in his profile quote, I feel lucky to have been born in America with freedom and opportunity and hope that I do not waste such *** valuable thing. The national investigative unit recovered hundreds of posts from his now removed account some in 2020 showing he was supporting Bernie Sanders. Another tweet saying he supported Donald Trump in 2016. His voting record shows he's unaffiliated and in recent years. His social media posts support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on X Ralph once invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to come on vacation in Hawaii in hopes of building *** friendly bond between the dictator and Americans. More recently, he publicly tried to recruit volunteer soldiers to go overseas. His phone line for recruits still active sending soldiers to Ukraine as well as Taiwan. If you like to volunteer, please send me *** message. Routh went to Ukraine in 2022 to aid in its defense against Russia's invasion. But Ukraine's international legion confirmed with CNN. Routh was never part of the military there or *** confirmed volunteer long before his arrest Sunday in Florida. Ralph had *** deep criminal history dating back to 1998. In 2002, he faced firearm charges including one charge of possessing *** weapon of mass destruction, which *** local newspaper article said was *** machine gun during *** traffic stop and standoff. However, 11 years prior in 1991 Routh won *** law enforcement Oscar and was regarded as *** super citizen for helping catch *** suspected rapist and aiding with the investigation. In addition to criminal cases, we also found civil cases mostly against Ralph because of his business ventures. Most of that was clients not satisfied with his work in Washington, helping you get the facts. I'm national investigative correspondent John Cardelli.
Advertisement
Get the Facts: Who is Ryan Routh? | Investigating man's history linked to attempted assassination of Donald Trump
The man accused of what the FBI called a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump appeared in court Monday on weapons charges.The suspect, Ryan Routh, is only facing weapons charges because investigators say he didn't fire any shots at the former president. Routh is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.Hearst Television's National Investigative Unit dived deep into Routh's history. Here's what we found about him.Routh has been vocal about politics and critical of politicians in both parties. He was seen standing outside the U.S. Capitol more than a year ago, according to a LinkedIn post.Routh also posted a picture of himself in Ukraine's capital.A self-proclaimed human rights and political activist, Routh lived in North Carolina most of his life, working as a contractor and owning a roofing business.He moved to Hawaii in 2018, where he owns a business with one of his sons that builds storage units and tiny houses.In Hawaii, Routh was active on Twitter, now known as "X," writing in his profile: "I feel lucky to have been born in America, with freedom and opportunity and hope that I do not waste such a valuable thing."The National Investigative Unit recovered hundreds of posts from his now-removed account.Some posts in 2020 showed he was supporting Bernie Sanders and shifting away from Joe Biden, writing on March 4, "I was not supporting Bernie, but now I am; as sleepy Joe stands for nothing."He sent a public message to Donald Trump in June 2020 noting he had supported Trump in the 2016 election, but was no longer approving of him: "While you were my choice in 2106 , I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving...I will be glad when gone."His voting record shows he is "unaffiliated," and in recent years, his social media posts support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. He publicly posted to both of them following the first assassination attempt on Trump, telling them to visit those who were injured. "Trump will never do anything for them. ... Show the world what compassion and humanity is all about," he wrote to Harris.On "X," Routh once invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to vacation in Hawaii, hoping to build a friendly bond between the dictator and Americans.More recently, he publicly tried to recruit volunteer soldiers to go overseas. His phone line for recruits is still active."Sending soldiers to Ukraine as well as Taiwan…if you'd like to volunteer, please send me a message," Routh said in a voicemail.Routh went to Ukraine in 2022 to aid in its defense against Russia's invasion.However, Ukraine's International Legion confirmed with CNN that Routh was never part of the military there or a confirmed volunteer.Long before his arrest Sunday in Florida, Routh had a deep criminal history dating back to at least 1998.In 2002, he faced several firearms charges, including one charge of possessing a "weapon of mass destruction," which a local newspaper article said was a machine gun found during a traffic stop and standoff.However, 11 years prior, in 1991, Routh won a law enforcement Oscar and was regarded as a super citizen for helping catch a suspected rapist and aiding with the investigation.In addition to prior criminal cases, several civil claims were found against Routh, mostly from clients upset with his work.

The man accused of what the FBI called a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump appeared in court Monday on weapons charges.

The suspect, Ryan Routh, is only facing weapons charges because investigators say he didn't fire any shots at the former president. Routh is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Advertisement

Hearst Television's National Investigative Unit dived deep into Routh's history. Here's what we found about him.

Routh has been vocal about politics and critical of politicians in both parties. He was seen standing outside the U.S. Capitol more than a year ago, according to a LinkedIn post.

Routh also posted a picture of himself in Ukraine's capital.

ryan routh linkedin post
LinkedIn

A self-proclaimed human rights and political activist, Routh lived in North Carolina most of his life, working as a contractor and owning a roofing business.

He moved to Hawaii in 2018, where he owns a business with one of his sons that builds storage units and tiny houses.

In Hawaii, Routh was active on Twitter, now known as "X," writing in his profile: "I feel lucky to have been born in America, with freedom and opportunity and hope that I do not waste such a valuable thing."

The National Investigative Unit recovered hundreds of posts from his now-removed account.

Some posts in 2020 showed he was supporting Bernie Sanders and shifting away from Joe Biden, writing on March 4, "I was not supporting Bernie, but now I am; as sleepy Joe stands for nothing."

ryan routh post on x regarding support for bernie sanders
X/Ryan Routh

He sent a public message to Donald Trump in June 2020 noting he had supported Trump in the 2016 election, but was no longer approving of him: "While you were my choice in 2106 [sic], I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving...I will be glad when gone."

ryan routh post on x regarding dissatisfaction for trump after supporting him in 2016
X/Ryan Routh

His voting record shows he is "unaffiliated," and in recent years, his social media posts support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. He publicly posted to both of them following the first assassination attempt on Trump, telling them to visit those who were injured. "Trump will never do anything for them. ... Show the world what compassion and humanity is all about," he wrote to Harris.

On "X," Routh once invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to vacation in Hawaii, hoping to build a friendly bond between the dictator and Americans.

ryan routh post on x inviting kim jong un to hawaii
X/Ryan Routh

More recently, he publicly tried to recruit volunteer soldiers to go overseas. His phone line for recruits is still active.

"Sending soldiers to Ukraine as well as Taiwan…if you'd like to volunteer, please send me a message," Routh said in a voicemail.

Routh went to Ukraine in 2022 to aid in its defense against Russia's invasion.

However, Ukraine's International Legion confirmed with CNN that Routh was never part of the military there or a confirmed volunteer.

Long before his arrest Sunday in Florida, Routh had a deep criminal history dating back to at least 1998.

In 2002, he faced several firearms charges, including one charge of possessing a "weapon of mass destruction," which a local newspaper article said was a machine gun found during a traffic stop and standoff.

article showing 2002 arrest of ryan routh
News & Record (Greensboro, NC), Dec. 17, 2002

However, 11 years prior, in 1991, Routh won a law enforcement Oscar and was regarded as a super citizen for helping catch a suspected rapist and aiding with the investigation.

In addition to prior criminal cases, several civil claims were found against Routh, mostly from clients upset with his work.