The man accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump in Florida last year as he was running for reelection is expected to present his case to the jury on Monday, Sept. 22.

Ryan Routh, 59, is representing himself and intends to call three witnesses to the stand, he told the court last week. Routh has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Prosecutors allege that on Sept. 15, 2024, Ruth perched himself with a rifle in the tree line of Trump International Golf Club and planned to fatally shoot the leading Republican presidential candidate. Before Trump entered his sightline, a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted Routh and opened fire, thwarting the assassination plot, prosecutors say.

The government rested its case on Friday, Sept. 19. Over more than a week, jurors heard testimony from forensic experts, witnesses and acquaintances of Routh.

Last week, Routh indicated what his defense strategy might be, telling U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that he wants to introduce character evidence to demonstrate his "peacefulness, gentleness and nonviolence."

'The gun was never fired': Routh seeks to have charges thrown out

At the close of the federal prosecutors' case last week, Routh sought a judgment of acquittal on four of the five counts against him, arguing that prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence to prove their case.

In addressing the attempted assassination charge, Routh argued that prosecutors did not prove that he intended to harm Trump.

"The gun was never fired and nothing ever happened as far as taking a substantial step to kill the former president," he told the court.

Assisstant U.S. Attorney John Shipley responded by saying that evidence shows that Routh purchased a rifle in the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt and, on the day in question, loaded a round into the chamber and pointed the rifle through a fence as Trump was playing golf.

Routh also argued that he had a right to peacefully protest at the golf course.

"This is as far (from) peaceful assembly as you can imagine," Shipley responded. "Peaceful protest is one thing. An assassination attempt is another."

Cannon, a Trump appointee, rejected Routh's arguments and said there were sufficient grounds for the charges against him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man accused in Trump assassination plot to present his case

Reporting by Christopher Cann and Julius Whigham II, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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