Ryan Routh, the man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump, has issued a series of shocking and bizarre requests from behind bars, including an invitation for the president to punch him in the face “as many times as you want.”
In a motion unsealed on Tuesday, Routh made the extraordinary request to allow Trump to attack him during court proceedings. The would-be assassin suggested Trump could assault him without consequences or cameras present.
According to the court filing, Routh wrote that if Trump “wished to pummel the defendant just for good measure, put on the handcuffs and shackles and give it your worst.”
He added the phrase: “No cameras, no complaints, no [charges]. Just good fun.”
Routh continued his taunting message by challenging the president’s courage. “Don’t be a pssy. (Can I say p*ssy or coward-sorry),” he wrote in the motion.
The defendant stated in his filing that Trump could ask any questions he desired.
Routh claimed his motivation for wanting Trump in court was specifically to give the president an opportunity to punch him in the face.
In another section of the motion, Routh elaborated on his invitation.
“Defendants open invitation speak your mind to the jury to vent any anger and displeasure with the defendant and perhaps if you wish, he will allow you even to punch him in the face, as many times as you want; no charges-we know someone at DOJ. Most fun in decades, don’t miss it,” he wrote.
Beyond the assault invitation, Routh attempted to subpoena Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student facing deportation orders from the Trump administration.
Routh requested Khalil “testify to the gross violation to our Freedom of Speech and erosion of democracy to authoritarianism.”
The defendant made additional inflammatory claims in his motion suggesting the president harbored dictatorial ambitions.
In connection with the Khalil case, Routh alleged Trump planned to make himself a permanent leader.
“Tell us how the war against migrants is to enact the insurrection act for martial law to end all federal voting; for [a] permanent president,” Routh wrote in the filing.
Routh further questioned what actions might be necessary to remove a sitting president.
“With your expertise on Fascism we need your knowledge on the 14th Amendment/Sec. 3 – Disqualification to Hold Office; is prevention prior and remedy after? Also Amendment 2 for a well regulated militia, we wonder what it will take to remove a fascist dictator with National Guard and military already in DC how will America remove the President from the White House in 2029 – is there a chapter in one of your books and how many lives will be lost,” he added.
Following his guilty verdict for attempting to assassinate Trump in September, Routh engaged in violent behavior in the courtroom. Resist the Mainstream previously reported that he immediately attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen before being tackled to the ground and removed from the court.
After his conviction, Routh penned a letter in October requesting transfer to a state where assisted suicide is legal. Alternatively, he proposed being traded to an enemy nation of the United States, specifically mentioning Iran.
In his letter, Routh stated Iran could “torture, kill and drag [him] through the streets” in exchange for an Iranian human rights activist. He presented this proposal to US District Judge Aileen Cannon, arguing the arrangement would be similar to Trump “disposing of his worst enemy.”
