Suspect in Trump assassination bid talks Hitler, Gaza and Ukraine as trial opens
The judge cut off Ryan Routh’s opening statement after warning him about making a ‘mockery of the dignity of the courtroom’
A suspect on trial for trying to assassinate US President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year forfeited his right to continue making an opening statement on Thursday when he veered off topic and talked about Adolf Hitler and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Ryan Routh, who is representing himself, was warned by US District Judge Aileen Cannon to stay on topic. The judge twice asked jurors to leave the courtroom so she could deal with the unconventional turn Routh’s opening statement took.
“This case means absolutely nothing,” Routh said, telling the judge he wanted to speak about non-violence.
Cannon had earlier warned Routh that she had limited patience for an argument that would “make a mockery of the dignity of the courtroom”.
Both Routh and the prosecutors had been given 40 minutes each to make opening statements, but Routh’s initial argument, read from a written statement, lasted about 10 minutes before the judge said he had forfeited the right to continue because he was addressing unrelated matters.
“I gave you one more chance and you continued to read what has no relevance for this case,” Cannon said.