Would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison, according to several reports.
Routh was convicted in September on five counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and gun charges, after representing himself during his 12-day Florida trial.
Though he represented himself during the trial, he requested legal counsel for his sentencing. Routh’s attorney requested a sentence of 27 years, given his age and mental state.
Routh claims the jury was “misled by his inability to effectively confront witnesses, use exhibits or affirmatively introduce impeachment evidence designed to prove his lack of intent to cause injury to anyone” during the trial, according to the filing.
Prosecutors sought a life sentence, calling his arguments for less “wholly meritless.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Biden State Dept Appeared To Ignore Emails From Would-Be Trump Assassin)
“Routh’s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence—he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major Presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,” prosecutors wrote in a Jan. 16 filing. “The Constitution affords citizens many peaceful avenues to oppose or express strong dissent about a Presidential candidate—murder is not one of them.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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