Gunman revealed Trump plot months before golf course arrest: DOJ

WASHINGTON: The gunman suspected of planning to kill Donald Trump wrote a chilling letter months ago about an “assassination attempt” on the former president, US prosecutors said on Monday.

The correspondence emerged as Ryan Routh, 58, was due in court in southern Florida charged with two firearms offenses after he was arrested allegedly fleeing Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach on September 15.

Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent fired at Routh after spotting a rifle poking out of the tree line several holes ahead of Trump, and that Routh was spotted by a witness who saw him escaping in a car. Federal prosecutors said in Monday´s filing Routh had dropped off a box at an unidentified person´s home “several months” beforehand, containing ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, phones “and various letters.”

After learning of the apparent assassination bid, the witness apparently opened the box and discovered a letter addressed to “The World.” “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” it said.

“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.” It was not clear if he was referring to a separate, earlier attempt on the life of Trump or the one at the golf course. Detectives believe Routh may have been lying in wait for Trump for nearly 12 hours at the Florida course.