FBI: Son of suspect in Trump assassination attempt arrested on child sexual abuse images charges

The suspect. Ryan Routh is only facing weapons charges because he didn't fire any shots at the former president. And we're learning through social media that Routh is very vocal about politics and critical of politicians regardless of their party. That's Ryan Wesley Routh standing outside the US Capitol more than *** year ago. The picture from *** linkedin post. Ralph also posted *** picture of himself in Ukraine's capital. *** self proclaimed human rights and political activist, Ralph lived in North Carolina most of his life, working as *** contractor and owning *** roofing business. He moved to Hawaii in 2018 where he owns *** business with one of his sons that builds storage units and tiny houses in Hawaii. Ralph was on Twitter writing in his profile quote, I feel lucky to have been born in America with freedom and opportunity and hope that I do not waste such *** valuable thing. The national investigative unit recovered hundreds of posts from his now removed account some in 2020 showing he was supporting Bernie Sanders. Another tweet saying he supported Donald Trump in 2016. His voting record shows he's unaffiliated and in recent years. His social media posts support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on X Ralph once invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to come on vacation in Hawaii in hopes of building *** friendly bond between the dictator and Americans. More recently, he publicly tried to recruit volunteer soldiers to go overseas. His phone line for recruits still active sending soldiers to Ukraine as well as Taiwan. If you like to volunteer, please send me *** message. Routh went to Ukraine in 2022 to aid in its defense against Russia's invasion. But Ukraine's international legion confirmed with CNN. Routh was never part of the military there or *** confirmed volunteer long before his arrest Sunday in Florida. Ralph had *** deep criminal history dating back to 1998. In 2002, he faced firearm charges including one charge of possessing *** weapon of mass destruction, which *** local newspaper article said was *** machine gun during *** traffic stop and standoff. However, 11 years prior in 1991 Routh won *** law enforcement Oscar and was regarded as *** super citizen for helping catch *** suspected rapist and aiding with the investigation. In addition to criminal cases, we also found civil cases mostly against Ralph because of his business ventures. Most of that was clients not satisfied with his work in Washington, helping you get the facts. I'm national investigative correspondent John Cardelli.

Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Sep 24, 2024

Editorial Standards ⓘ

FBI: Son of suspect in Trump assassination attempt arrested on child sexual abuse images charges

Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Sep 24, 2024

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The son of the man suspected in the assassination attempt in Florida against former President Donald Trump has been arrested on federal charges of possessing child sexual abuse images.Oran Alexander Routh was arrested this week after authorities searched his Greensboro, North Carolina, home “in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation," and found hundreds of files depicting child sexual abuse, an FBI agent said in court papers.Investigators who seized multiple electronic devices found videos sent to Oran Routh in July as well as chats from a messaging application commonly used by people who share child sexual abuse material, the FBI agent said.He faces two charges of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material and is expected to appear later Tuesday in federal court in North Carolina.There was no attorney listed for Oran Routh in court papers. Phone messages left for relatives of Oran Routh were not immediately returned.Oran Routh’s father, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been charged with federal gun offenses in connection to the attempted assassination at Trump's Florida golf course earlier this month. Prosecutors have indicated much more serious attempted assassination charges are coming.Oran Routh's arrest was first reported Tuesday by ABC News.A federal judge on Monday agreed with Justice Department prosecutors that Ryan Routh should remain locked up while he awaits trial in his case.Prosecutors have said Ryan Routh left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear. The note describing Routh’s plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after Ryan Routh's arrest, prosecutors said.Ryan Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.But a prosecutor said in court Monday that they would pursue additional charges before a grand jury, accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.Ryan Routh was arrested Sept. 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man’s face and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at the former president.The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain-link fence.

WASHINGTON —

The son of the man suspected in the assassination attempt in Florida against former President Donald Trump has been arrested on federal charges of possessing child sexual abuse images.

Oran Alexander Routh was arrested this week after authorities searched his Greensboro, North Carolina, home “in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation," and found hundreds of files depicting child sexual abuse, an FBI agent said in court papers.

Investigators who seized multiple electronic devices found videos sent to Oran Routh in July as well as chats from a messaging application commonly used by people who share child sexual abuse material, the FBI agent said.

He faces two charges of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material and is expected to appear later Tuesday in federal court in North Carolina.

There was no attorney listed for Oran Routh in court papers. Phone messages left for relatives of Oran Routh were not immediately returned.

Oran Routh’s father, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been charged with federal gun offenses in connection to the attempted assassination at Trump's Florida golf course earlier this month. Prosecutors have indicated much more serious attempted assassination charges are coming.

Oran Routh's arrest was first reported Tuesday by ABC News.

A federal judge on Monday agreed with Justice Department prosecutors that Ryan Routh should remain locked up while he awaits trial in his case.

Prosecutors have said Ryan Routh left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear. The note describing Routh’s plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after Ryan Routh's arrest, prosecutors said.

Ryan Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

But a prosecutor said in court Monday that they would pursue additional charges before a grand jury, accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.

It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.

Ryan Routh was arrested Sept. 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man’s face and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at the former president.

The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain-link fence.

��vlog