Federal prosecutors have requested an indefinite delay in the trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
ABC News reported that the request, filed on Wednesday, cites the vast amount of evidence gathered since Routh's arrest just 17 days ago.
The prosecutors seek to have Judge Aileen Cannon officially designate the case as "complex" due to the extensive investigation still underway.
The filing reveals that investigators have conducted hundreds of witness interviews and executed 13 search warrants across Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina. They have seized hundreds of items of evidence, including multiple electronic devices, amassing an estimated 4,000 terabytes of digital data to review.
Prosecutors outlined the scope of their ongoing investigation in the court filing. They reported having more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns related to the case and thousands of videos yet to review from the seized electronic devices.
The sheer volume of digital evidence is staggering, with prosecutors estimating that "all videos, still images, text files, and audio files constitute approximately 4,000 terabytes (4 million gigabytes) of digital review to complete." This massive amount of data underscores the complexity of the case and the need for additional time to process and analyze all the evidence.
Furthermore, the FBI is continuing to conduct forensic tests on other evidence, including ballistics testing and fingerprint and DNA comparisons. These tests will likely require the preparation of several expert witnesses to testify about their findings during the eventual trial.
The filing indicates that Routh's defense attorneys did not oppose the government's request to indefinitely delay the trial date. This agreement suggests that both sides recognize the complexity of the case and the need for thorough preparation before proceeding to trial.
Routh, 58, appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday for his arraignment on attempted assassination charges. His lawyers entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-profile and intricate legal battle.
The incident that led to Routh's arrest occurred on September 15 at Trump International Golf Club. According to investigators, Trump was playing golf when a Secret Service agent spotted a gun barrel protruding from the tree line near the sixth green.
The agent reportedly fired in the direction of the rifle and observed Routh fleeing the area and entering a nearby vehicle. This quick action by the Secret Service potentially thwarted what could have been a tragic event.
Initially, Routh was charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The addition of attempted assassination charges elevates the seriousness of the case and the potential consequences for Routh if convicted.
The trial of Ryan Routh for the alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump faces an indefinite delay due to the vast amount of evidence gathered. Prosecutors have requested that the case be designated as "complex," citing thousands of terabytes of digital data for review and ongoing forensic tests. The defense has not opposed the delay, recognizing the need for thorough preparation in this high-profile case.
