Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier announced state charges against Routh, a 58-year-old Hawaii resident, for attempting to kill Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course back in September 2024. The state’s piling on with attempted first-degree murder and terrorism charges, saying Routh’s actions weren’t just a federal matter but a direct threat to Florida’s safety.
This comes while Routh already faces federal charges, including attempted assassination, after allegedly camping out with a rifle near Trump’s club.
The announcement hit hard at a press conference in Tallahassee on Wednesday, where Uthmeier didn’t hold back. “This was a calculated attack meant to spark chaos,” he said. “We’re stepping up to protect our state and hold this guy accountable.”
Federal prosecutors, though, weren’t thrilled. In a Thursday statement, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe pushed back, saying, “The Justice Department’s got this under control. Florida’s charges risk muddying the waters.”
There’s a deeper tug-of-war here. Florida’s governor has been vocal about wanting state control, arguing the feds—already tangled in other Trump cases—might not play it straight. Back in September, he kicked off a state probe, only to hit a federal roadblock citing their lead on assassination cases. Florida didn’t back down, filing a lawsuit against the Justice Department in October and securing a state warrant by December.
Some see it as Florida flexing its muscle; others say it’s just politics, with the state eyeing tougher penalties like life in prison for attempted murder—something federal law doesn’t match.
Things got trickier with a side issue. Florida’s also charging Routh over a car crash during his arrest, when traffic stopped on Interstate 95 led to a wreck that hurt a young girl. That’s stirred debate about whether the state’s reaching too far.
Both sides are digging in. Florida insists it’s got a right to tackle what happened on its soil, especially with a high-profile figure like Trump. The feds argue their case—bolstered by evidence like Routh’s letter admitting the plot—takes priority.