Ryan Routh, who was convicted in September of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, submitted a series of unusual requests in court filings unsealed on Tuesday.
The filings included an offer inviting the president to physically strike him during court proceedings, as well as separate attempts to subpoena a university student and propose international trades involving himself.
Ryan Routh, who was convicted in Sept. 2024 assassination attempt against Trump, formally invited Trump to appear at Routh’s sentencing hearing
Routh’s court filing also invited Trump to… punch Routh “in the face”, if Trump so desires
“Most fun in decades”, Routh writes pic.twitter.com/m7Nocv7hqA
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In one motion, Routh wrote that if President Trump “wished to pummel the defendant just for good measure, put on the handcuffs and shackles and give it your worst.”
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He added, “No cameras, no complaints, no [charges]. Just good fun.” The filing included another line that read, “Don’t be a p*ssy. (Can I say p*ssy or coward-sorry).”
Routh wrote that he wanted President Trump present in court so that the president could ask him questions and punch him “as many times as you want.”
Routh expanded on the invitation in another portion of the filing.
“Defendants open invitation speak your mind to the jury to vent any anger and displeasure with the defendant and perhaps if you wish, he will allow you even to punch him in the face, as many times as you want; no charges-we know someone at DOJ. Most fun in decades, don’t miss it,” he wrote.
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Routh also attempted to subpoena Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student whom the Trump administration has ordered to be deported.
He wrote that Khalil should “testify to the gross violation to our Freedom of Speech and erosion of democracy to authoritarianism.”
Routh additionally claimed in the filing that the administration was planning actions connected to martial law, referencing the Insurrection Act and constitutional provisions.
“Tell us how the war against migrants is to enact the insurrection act for martial law to end all federal voting; for [a] permanent president,” he wrote.
He continued with questions addressed to Khalil, saying, “With your expertise on Fascism we need your knowledge on the 14th Amendment/Sec. 3 – Disqualification to Hold Office; is prevention prior and remedy after? Also Amendment 2 for a well regulated militia, we wonder what it will take to remove a fascist dictator with National Guard and military already in DC how will America remove the President from the White House in 2029 – is there a chapter in one of your books and how many lives will be lost.”
Following his conviction, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen inside the courtroom.
He was restrained by security and removed from the room.
In October, he submitted another letter offering to be sent to a state with legalized assisted suicide or traded to a nation hostile to the United States, listing Iran as one of several possibilities.
He wrote that Iran could “torture, kill and drag [him] through the streets” in exchange for an Iranian human rights activist. He framed the proposed trade as similar to President Trump “disposing of his worst enemy.”
Routh also proposed that he could be exchanged for a Palestinian detainee held by Israel or a Ukrainian detainee held by Russia.
In a separate filing submitted before his September verdict, Routh suggested settling his case through a golf match with President Trump.
“A round of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me. I win I get his job (sorry hillbilly Vance),” he wrote.
The filings were submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon as part of Routh’s broader effort to influence the sentencing process.
The court has not issued rulings on the motions referenced in the documents.
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