Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida will conduct an independent investigation into an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in the state on Sunday.
“The State of Florida will be conducting its investigation regarding the attempted assassination at Trump International Golf Club,” the Republican governor wrote on X. “The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee.”
The announcement came hours after a suspect reportedly identified as Ryan Routh was spotted camping in bushes near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course with what local officials later determined was an “AK-style rifle” with a scope. According to Fox News, a Secret Service agent “walking a hole ahead of Trump” — who was playing on the course — “noticed the muzzle of the AK-style rifle sticking through the fence around the course and opened fire.”
The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a car and was subsequently arrested by authorities.
Trump campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung released a statement shortly after non-specific reports of the incident became public, confirming the former president was safe.
In addition to the gun, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw later said Routh was in possession of a GoPro camera and two backpacks containing ceramic tile. The sheriff further asserted the suspect was 300 to 500 yards from Trump when he was engaged by the Secret Service.
The FBI announced Sunday it is investigating the “apparent assassination attempt,” according to CNN.
Former Navy SEAL Erik Prince asked DeSantis hours before the governor’s announcement for the Sunshine State to take priority control of any government-led inquiry.
“@GovRonDeSantis Please assume direct control of the investigation into this attempted assassination of DJT,” Prince wrote on X. “Tell the Feds to wait in line until Florida resources have done a thorough and transparent look into all the evidence. The Feds have dropped the ball thoroughly on Butler PA. Time for Florida to save the day especially since this attempt happened only 300m from the State Forensics Lab.”
Prince notably participated in a forum hosted at The Heritage Foundation last month that focused on the myriad security failures by the Secret Service during the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service and federal agencies have reportedly stonewalled requests for more information on the incident by members of Congress investigating the matter.
Speaking with fellow panelists and participating GOP congressmen, Prince said the agency’s negligence could have cost Trump his life if a member of an international terrorist organization had taken the shot at the former president.
“Thank God that 20-year-old … aimed at a headshot at President Trump, because if he’d aimed center mass, President Trump would probably be dead. … A Hezbollah team, or ISIS, or you name the terrorist organization that knows what they’re doing, would have been successful that day,” he said.
