The suspect in the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his golf course wrote a letter months before the incident detailing his plan, according to court documents released by the prosecution on Monday.
The documents surfaced after Ryan Roth appeared before a judge in South Florida, facing charges of illegal firearm possession and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to add an additional charge of attempted assassination.
Roth, 58, was arrested on September 15 while trying to flee in a car from Trump’s International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. A Secret Service agent shot at him after spotting a rifle barrel among the trees surrounding the golf course, according to court filings from the government.
The prosecution’s documents reveal that months prior, Roth had delivered a box to an unidentified individual’s home containing ammunition, a metal pipe, construction materials, phones, and “various letters.”
Upon learning of the alleged assassination attempt, the witness apparently opened the box and found a letter addressed to “the world.”
The letter read: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I have failed you. I did everything I could. It’s now up to you to finish the job. I will offer $150,000 to whoever can complete the mission.”
It remains unclear whether Roth was referring to a previous assassination attempt or anticipated his plan at the golf course would be thwarted.
During Monday’s hearing in West Palm Beach, Roth’s detention was extended.
He currently faces charges of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and illegal firearm possession. Prosecutors are expected to add the charge of “attempted assassination,” which could lead to a life sentence.
Trump has accused the Department of Justice and the FBI of “mishandling” and “downplaying” the golf course incident, which he believes is the second assassination attempt on him, following a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania in July.
The shooter in the Pennsylvania case was killed on the scene, and there is no known connection between that attempt and the recent plot.
In a written statement, Trump—before prosecutors hinted at a potential third charge—called the current charge against Roth a mere “slap on the wrist.”
In a statement filled with conspiracy theories regarding his ongoing criminal trials, Trump called for the Roth case to be transferred to Florida state authorities, overseen by right-wing Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Investigators believe Roth may have been stalking Trump for about 12 hours at the Florida golf course. He was arrested after police identified his car on a nearby highway.
According to the government, Roth had traveled to Florida a month prior to his arrest, where he began surveilling the golf course and passed by Trump’s oceanfront home.
In online posts, Roth admitted to voting for Trump in 2016 but said the former president had become “disappointing.”
Roth’s letter, a portion of which was included in court filings, stated: “Everyone around the world, from the youngest to the oldest, knows that Trump is unfit to be anything, let alone President of the United States.”
Roth continued, “U.S. presidents should embody the moral fabric of America, be kind, compassionate, selfless, and always stand for humanity. Trump fails to understand any of this.”
Roth’s defense team acknowledged he had been arrested for less serious offenses in the past but described him as a law-abiding citizen with no history of violence.
