A man accused of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year told a federal judge that prosecutors have not proven there was an assassination attempt, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
However, the judge denied his request for acquittal, meaning the man's fate will be decided by a jury.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Ryan Routh on Friday afternoon after questioning 38 witnesses over seven days. After the jury was dismissed for the weekend, Routh, who is representing himself, filed a motion for acquittal directly with federal Judge Eileen Cannon on four of the five charges against him, except for the charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks planning to kill Trump before pointing a rifle through the bushes while Trump was playing golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach club.
Rout has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal employee and several firearms-related offenses.
On Friday afternoon, Routh said prosecutors had not proven any attempt to kill Trump.
"They may have proven that someone was outside the fence (on the golf course) with "a gun, but the gun was never fired," Rout said.
He said the area outside Trump International Golf Club is a public place to walk on a public road and anyone has the right to be there with a gun.
Prosecutors responded that Rout took several significant steps in his attempt to kill Trump, including pointing a loaded gun with the safety off over the fence.