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The man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in Florida is now facing a new felony charge.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced an attempted felony murder charge against Ryan Routh during a press conference on Wednesday. The new charge stems from the near-death of a 6-year-old girl during the pursuit of Routh on the highway after he fled the West Palm Beach golf course where then-GOP nominee Trump was playing.

(Video Credit: WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando)

Moody explained that the child was “seriously injured” and “almost died” due to a crash that occurred after Routh allegedly fled from Trump’s golf course on September 15 and drove north on Interstate 95. Traffic was shut down in both directions by law enforcement who arrested the suspect in Martin County.

“We felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf and her family that will never be the same as they cope with her injuries,” Moody said.

Routh’s alleged actions are considered domestic terrorism, according to the federal prosecutor who noted that her office had previously reached out to the Biden administration to have new charges pursued. She was reportedly told not to bring any new charges against Routh to protect the case of the assassination attempt due to national security.

“As a former federal prosecutor, I have never seen such unwillingness or lack of communication, and a joint effort to pursue charges against the same individual for the same criminal act,” Moody said.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder believes the federal obstruction in the state’s own investigation was political and “from way above” the agents.

Snyder said it “was not normal from our federal partners,” adding, “This was not ground-level FBI agents. This came from much higher, way above those FBI agents.”

Moody noted that the state filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland over the alleged obstruction in the case.

However, the AG was hopeful, saying a “new day is coming” with President-elect Trump returning to the White House and the impending confirmation of his nominee Kash Patel to lead the FBI and Pam Bondi as Attorney General.

“Attorney General Pam Bondi, my predecessor here in the state of Florida may soon be the Attorney General to the Department of Justice, and we may also see a new director at the FBI,” Moody said. “I personally have strongly supported these nominations, leading efforts and writing to the Senate to promptly and thoroughly consider these nominations and to those senators that would advise and provide consent on the nominations of President-elect Trump.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was slated to be at the press conference but was unable to make it when weather grounded his flight. He did, however, issue a statement on social media calling out how the DOJ “stonewalled” his state’s investigation.

“The feds have stonewalled Florida’s investigation of the Trump assassination attempt at every turn, and I appreciate AG Ashley Moody and her team for plowing forward despite such resistance,” the Republican governor wrote.

“The tide will turn on January 20th and we fully expect that the federal roadblocks will be removed,” he added. “The would-be assassin needs to face the full force of justice and the people deserve the truth about the defendant’s history, motivations and plan.”

Routh, who remains in federal custody, pleaded not guilty to two federal firearms charges as well as an attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and assaulting a federal officer.

Frieda Powers
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