Explosives expert details devices as Trump assassination trial nears close
ATF examiner testifies about a gray box containing improvised devices as prosecutors push toward resting their case in Ryan Routh trial
The prosecution in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024, called a series of law enforcement and forensic experts Thursday as prosecutors near the close of their case. Randy Walters, an ATF destructive device examiner, testified that a gray box recovered at the home of one of Routh’s acquaintances contained homemade devices, including rat traps modified to trigger explosives, pipes and .50-caliber cartridges. "It’s limitless," he said of how such traps can be improvised. Walters told jurors the components had no other purpose "other than being used as a weapon," and seven partially assembled firing mechanisms were found inside a bag in the box.
On cross-examination, Routh asked Walters about whether the pieces themselves were illegal to own. Walters agreed that most were not, but later noted when asked by prosecutors that it is unlawful for a convicted felon to possess ammunition. Jurors also got their closest look yet of the Chinese-made semiautomatic rifle prosecutors say Routh carried onto Trump’s golf course during the testimony of FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle. The jury leaned in to study the weapon and other exhibits as testimony ran through the afternoon.
Routh, representing himself in court, highlighted documents, sighed audibly and often apologized to witnesses. Approaching one Miami-based agent during cross-examination, he said, "At least you didn’t have to drive far." At other points, he told witnesses their answers should be "just common sense," and continued speaking even after prosecutors’ objections, prompting Judge Aileen Cannon to cut him off.
FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle testified about the semiautomatic rifle prosecutors say Routh carried onto Trump’s golf course, and he admitted he had not test-fired the weapon. The exchange touched on whether officers could reliably classify the weapon as semiautomatic or fully automatic. The day’s testimony also included references to other exhibits and forensic materials presented by the government as it builds toward resting its case.
The court planned to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. ET for a charge conference with counsel. The prosecution is expected to rest its case Friday, with the defense told to have its witnesses ready. The trial continues in Fort Pierce, Florida, as jurors assess whether Routh assembled or possessed weapons with the intent to take the life of a sitting president during a 2024 visit to Trump’s golf club.
The case remains a focal point as federal officials seek to delineate the boundaries of what constitutes an attempted political assassination, and as prosecutors lay out a narrative tying Routh’s actions to a broader political moment. The defense, conducted without a lawyer on the docket, has signaled it will present its own set of witnesses and defenses in the remaining days of the trial.
