US Federal Prosecutor Dakwa Routh With Attempted Murder Of Donald Trump

Illustration of Donal Trump while playing golf. (Wikimedia Commons/)

JAKARTA - Ryan Routh, 58, accused of stalking Donald Trump's golf course in Florida with a rifle, was charged with attempted murder of a political candidate, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Routh has faced two counts of firearms after authorities said he pointed the rifle over the fence at Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 15 when the Republican presidential candidate was playing golf there.

He has been ordered to remain in prison pending trial.

"The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that attacks the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold those who do it accountable. This must stop," Attorney General total Garland said in a statement.

The Justice Department said the federal grand jury in Miami returned the charges on Tuesday afternoon. The attempted murder has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The case has been handed over to US District Judge Total Cannon. He rejected a criminal case in July accusing Trump of keeping classified documents illegally after leaving his post.

Routh has yet to file a defense. Previously, Routh's lawyer failed to ask for his release on bail.

Prosecutors have in recent days revealed evidence they say led to plans to kill Trump.

They accused several months before the incident, Routh sent a letter to an unknown person who alluded to "the assassination attempt on Donald Trump."

They said Routh spent a month in southern Florida. Cell phone data shows him near the golf course and Trump's residence in Florida in Mar-a-Lago. He was found with a list of dates and places Trump was addressing or expected to appear, according to court files.

Earlier, a US Secret Service agent who was examining the golf course in front of Trump opened fire after finding the rifle's barrel sticking through the fence, causing Routh to flee, prosecutors said.

He was arrested within an hour along the Florida highway. Routh was initially charged with possession of firearms as a convicted criminal and possession of firearms with serial numbers removed.