Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, has expressed his political independence and disdain for the two-party system in a lengthy letter from his Miami prison cell.
Routh, who is currently awaiting charges for allegedly setting up a "sniper's nest" at a Trump golf course, wrote, "A guard [in] Palm Beach asked jokingly if I was a democrat I said, NO Independent I vote for the best candidate."
The letter, addressed to Politico's legal affairs columnist Ankush Khardori, offers a glimpse into Routh's political views and his frustration with the American political system. As reported by the Daily Mail, Routh was born in North Carolina and later moved to Hawaii. He has faced numerous criminal charges over the years. In September, he was discovered outside Trump's Florida golf course while the then-president was playing, leading to a Secret Service Agent firing upon him.
In his letter, Routh expresses his dissatisfaction with the two-party system, writing, "I am unclear how we allowed ourselves to fall into just a two-party system, but it infuriates me." He continues, "My entire life has been plagued by Ds and Rs. It seems not long ago there was a push for the libertarian party and now a green party and maybe Truth party. But for some reason our leaders have not allowed any other party [to] be recognized in any race."
Routh's political leanings have seemingly shifted over time. He previously posted that Trump was his "choice" in 2016, but later expressed his disillusionment with the former president, writing in 2020, "I will be glad when you are gone."
In his letter, Routh, who refers to himself as the "alleged shooter," criticizes the "two ruling parties," expresses concern over the growing national debt, and calls for a solution to be found "balls out." He also laments the "gridlock in Congress" and advocates for public financing of campaigns, a proposal typically associated with left-leaning politics.
"We all wonder why we end up with such flawed candidates, when our system is designed to exclude most everyone," he wrote, reflecting a sentiment shared by many Americans dissatisfied with their electoral options.
Routh also draws parallels between himself and Thomas Matthew Crooks, another man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump. He claims they were both "ready to die for freedom and democracy."
The letter also delves into international politics, with Routh expressing his views on the Middle East. He calls for Israel to cease their attacks and for all parties to find common ground. He criticizes Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, using the official acronym, JCPOA, indicating some familiarity with the political discourse surrounding the move. He blames Trump "for all those lives lost and all the destruction."
Despite the newsworthiness of the letter, Politico has chosen not to publish it in its entirety. A spokesman for the publication stated, "We were not eager to appear as if we were simply providing a platform for the political views of someone accused of attempted murder. It is generally not a good idea simply to take the claims of an accused or convicted criminal at face value."
The FBI has declined to comment on the letter, and law enforcement has not requested it. Meanwhile, Routh, who also refers to himself as the "Trump Alleged Shooter," has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
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