Donald Trump Jr. said the Justice Department’s choice to release a letter from his father’s second would-be assassin has made things even more dangerous for former President Donald Trump.
The letter came from Ryan Routh, who is facing federal charges for an attempted assassination on Trump earlier this month. A recent court filing showed that Routh wrote a note months ago explaining his plan to kill Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
Trump Jr. was upset that the administration allowed the letter to be released; he believed that the letter endangered his father’s safety.
“For the life of me, I do not understand why the Kamala-Biden DOJ is publicly releasing a letter from Ryan Wesley Routh announcing a $150,000 bounty on my dad’s head,” Trump Jr. told The Daily Wire. He said that they are making things even more dangerous for his dad by releasing this information.
The letter is now being used as evidence in court by federal prosecutors to argue that Routh should remain in custody until his trial. So far, Routh has not been charged with attempting to assassinate Trump.
The letter, which was handwritten, reads: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
Later in the day, former President Trump also addressed the situation, accusing federal law enforcement of mishandling the case and not taking the threat seriously enough. The Biden-Kamala Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI are “downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July,” Trump said. “The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist.”
So far, Routh has only been charged with two federal crimes. One of those charges is for owning a gun as a convicted felon. He has not been officially charged with trying to assassinate Trump yet.
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to kill Trump. Just a few months ago, in July, Thomas Crooks allegedly shot Trump in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that incident, one person was killed, and two others were injured.
The release of this letter has raised concerns about how the DOJ is handling the serious threats against the former president. Even though Routh is in jail, his letter suggests and encourages others to continue his plan.
Trump’s supporters, including his son, are outraged at the perceived lack of protection for the former president, especially considering this is the second assassination attempt in just a few months. With Routh’s letter out in the open, they worry that it could encourage more people to take action, putting Trump’s life in even greater danger.
Many are questioning whether enough is being done to protect Trump, given that this is the second time someone has tried to kill him in recent months. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said that a whistleblower from DHS had come forward in regard to Trump’s security and the fact that the FBI is aware of five known assassination teams, including one backed by Iran, targeting the former president.
In the meantime, Trump and his family are left grappling with the reality that there are people out there who want to see him dead. While Routh is in custody, the fact that he put a price on Trump’s life has left a chilling impact, raising the stakes for both law enforcement and those tasked with protecting the former president.
