Judge seeks 'limited protective order' in Trump assassination case

By Brett Rowland
The Center Square 

A judge overseeing the case against the man accused of trying to kill former President Donald Trump during a round of golf ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys back to the drawing board on a proposed protective order. 

Prosecutors had sought a broad order that would prevent 58-year-old Hawaii resident Ryan Wesley Routh from having access to evidence in the case outside the presence of his attorneys unless authorized by prosecutors. 

Defense attorneys have objected to that proposed protective order, instead suggesting a more narrow approach. 

U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon ordered the two sides to come up with a more "limited protective order that more adequately takes into account Defendant's stated constitutional and logistical concerns," she wrote in an order.

Routh's team of attorneys from the Federal Public Defender's Office previously said they won't oppose a less restrictive order, such as the protective orders in the prosecutions that stemmed from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Prosecutors previously said they don't want Routh to turn over evidence to the media or anyone else.

"Routh himself has proven to be someone who desires the spotlight," prosecutors wrote in the motion. "Within the past few years, Routh self-published a book in which he called for the assassination of former President Donald J. Trump; exuded condemnation towards the Former President both in public and private messages; attempted to copyright a work of fiction based on his life; drafted multiple letters addressed to various media outlets to discuss his world views; and drafted a separate letter in which he announces a $150,000 bounty for someone to complete his objective of assassinating the Former President."

Even behind bars, Routh has sought out news agencies. Prosecutors said Routh told his daughter during a phone call from jail that he wanted the addresses for news organizations. He also said that the Bureau of Prisons denied NBC's request to conduct an interview.

Federal prosecutors charged Routh with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. Routh has pleaded not guilty.

Cannon gave the parties until Nov. 6 to file an update on the proposed protective order.

Routh's defense team also wants a new judge in the case. They said they don't want a judge who was appointed to the bench by the alleged victim in the case. 

A judge appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump rejected calls from the man accused of trying to assassinate Trump in September for a new judge in the case. 

U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order Tuesday that she saw "no proper basis for recusal."