Individual under scrutiny, allegedly involved in an assassination attempt against former President Trump, expresses remorse to prospective trial jury members.

In a courtroom in Fort Pierce, Florida, the trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, commenced on Monday. Routh, born in 1966 in North Carolina, is representing himself in the trial.

Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and several firearm violations. He pleaded not guilty to these charges.

The trial has been scheduled for four weeks, but attorneys expect it to take less time than that. The court-appointed attorneys are standing by as standby counsel for Routh.

The jury selection process involved 120 potential jurors filling out questionnaires and being questioned in three batches. Unfortunately, 20 potential jurors were dismissed due to hardships. The other two groups of potential jurors will return to the courtroom on Tuesday for further questioning.

The trial is a significant event, given the high-profile nature of the accused and the crime he is alleged to have committed. Routh aimed a rifle at a Secret Service agent during a golf game at Mar-a-Lago estate in September 2024, but did not fire any shots. The Secret Service agent thwarted the attempt.

Routh has a history of violent and dangerous behavior. In 2002, he barricaded himself with a fully automatic machine gun and a "weapon of mass destruction" during a traffic stop.

The prosecutor's list of exhibits for the trial includes photos of Routh holding the same model of semi-automatic rifle found at Trump's club. Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who confirmed Routh's identity after his arrest.

The judge presiding over the trial, Judge Cannon, was appointed by former President Trump. However, a separate case involving Trump's handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate has been under scrutiny for Cannon's handling of the case. Last year, the special counsel investigating Trump in that case was deemed illegally appointed by Cannon, leading to the dismissal of the case.

Routh's trial began nearly a year after an attempt on Trump's life in Pennsylvania. Routh has also pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

On the first day of the trial, Routh addressed the potential jurors and apologized for bringing them to the courtroom. The trial continues, with the court and the parties involved working towards a fair and just resolution.

Individual under scrutiny, allegedly involved in an assassination attempt against former President Trump, expresses remorse to prospective trial jury members.