A man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year argued in court that prosecutors have not established that an assassination attempt took place. However, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon denied his motion for acquittal, allowing the case to proceed to the jury.

Ryan Routh, who is representing himself, made his case on Friday after prosecutors concluded their arguments. They presented testimony from 38 witnesses over the course of seven days. Routh sought acquittal on four of the five charges against him, excluding the count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors allege that Routh spent weeks planning to kill Trump, culminating in an incident on September 15, 2024, when he aimed a rifle through the shrubbery at Trump while the former president was golfing at his West Palm Beach country club. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.

In court, Routh contended that the evidence did not support an assassination attempt. "They maybe proved that someone was outside the (golf course) fence with a gun, but the gun was never fired," he stated. He also claimed that the area outside the Trump International Golf Club was a public right of way, suggesting that anyone could be there with a weapon.

Prosecutors countered that Routh took significant steps toward carrying out the assassination, including aiming a loaded gun with the safety off through the fence. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley remarked, "This is as far from peaceful assembly as you can get."

Judge Cannon rejected Routh's motion, indicating that a juror could reasonably conclude that the prosecution met its burden of proof. The defense is set to begin its case on Monday, with Routh planning to call three witnesses: a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He has not disclosed whether he will testify himself.

Cannon noted that attorneys should prepare for closing arguments on Tuesday, with each side allotted one hour and 45 minutes. Following the arguments, jurors will begin deliberations.

The trial, held at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, was initially scheduled for over three weeks. However, Routh's brief cross-examinations have accelerated the proceedings. The prosecution's final witness, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy, spent about six hours detailing Routh's actions leading up to the alleged attack. She used various forms of evidence, including cellphone records and security video, to demonstrate that Routh had been stalking Trump and attempting to acquire a firearm for months prior to his arrest.

McGreevy testified that Routh lived out of a black Nissan Xterra, often parked at a truck stop in western Palm Beach County, while surveilling locations associated with Trump, including the golf course and Mar-a-Lago.

A Secret Service agent recounted that he spotted Routh aiming his rifle before Trump arrived. The agent opened fire, prompting Routh to drop his weapon and flee without discharging it. Law enforcement later apprehended Routh with assistance from a witness who identified him after hearing gunshots.

This incident followed a previous assassination attempt on Trump just nine weeks earlier, during which a gunman fired eight shots at him in Pennsylvania, narrowly missing the former president.