WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Ryan Wesley Routh to life in prison following his conviction for attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, according to a newly filed Justice Department sentencing memorandum.

Routh, who represented himself, was found guilty in September 2025 on five federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a Secret Service agent, and multiple firearms offenses. Prosecutors say the evidence showed Routh spent months planning the attack and came within moments of carrying it out.

In October 2025, Routh asked to be imprisoned in a state which permits assisted suicide. “I would like to plan forward for sentencing and request kindly to be placed in a state that has assisted suicide since I am a constant failure,” Routh wrote. “I have yet been unable to obtain a list, but I hope someone can provide it.”

The attack attempt occurred on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. According to court records, Routh built a concealed “sniper hide” near the golf course, illegally possessed a military-style SKS rifle, chambered a round, and aimed toward Trump and his protective detail.

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A Secret Service agent noticed Routh’s position and confronted him before he could fire. Routh fled the scene, abandoning the weapon, but was later arrested. Prosecutors say his actions endangered not only Trump but also law enforcement and members of the public nearby.

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Months of planning, prosecutors say

The sentencing memo details an extensive planning period in which Routh allegedly traveled across the country, used burner phones and stolen license plates, researched Trump’s movements, and studied sniper tactics, escape routes, and law-enforcement response methods.

Prosecutors say Routh’s motive was political — an attempt to prevent voters from having the option to elect Trump in the 2024 presidential election — a factor that triggered a federal terrorism sentencing enhancement.

The U.S. Probation Office calculated Routh’s sentencing guidelines as life imprisonment, a recommendation prosecutors fully support. They argue no lesser sentence would adequately reflect the seriousness of the crime, deter future political violence, or protect the public.

The memo also cites Routh’s lengthy criminal history, lack of remorse, and continued extremist rhetoric as reasons against any reduced sentence. Routh has asked the court for a significantly shorter term, but prosecutors called that request “wholly meritless.”

Routh is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2026, in federal court in South Florida. The judge will decide whether to impose the recommended life sentence.

Timeline: The Ryan Routh Case

• Late March 2024 Prosecutors say Routh first traveled to South Florida to pursue Trump and later left behind ammunition and a letter indicating his intent.
• July 2024 After a separate assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania, Routh allegedly recommitted to carrying out his own plot.
• Early August 2024 Routh unlawfully purchased an SKS rifle in North Carolina, despite being a convicted felon.
• August 14, 2024 He drove to South Florida using a stolen license plate, tracking Trump’s movements and camping near West Palm Beach.
• September 15, 2024 Routh set up a sniper hide near Trump International Golf Club, loaded the rifle, and aimed toward Trump before being discovered by a Secret Service agent.
• September 2025 A federal jury convicted Routh on all charges after a multi-week trial.
• February 4, 2026 (scheduled) Routh is set to be sentenced, with prosecutors seeking life in prison.

Click here for a full archive of coverage of the Ryan Routh assassination attempt and trial.