Suspected attempted Trump assassin begs judge to allow him to 'freeze to death in Siberia'
Ryan Routh, 59, asked to be sent to the Russian region to freeze to death as part of a bizarre request to prisoner swap with a Ukrainian soldier.
'I had wished for a prisoner swap with Hamas, Iran... or China for Jimmy Lai or one of the 40 others, or to freeze to death in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier... so I could die being of some use and save all this court mess,' he said in the letter to Judge Cannon.
'Perhaps you [Judge Cannon] have the power to trade me away... An easy diplomatic victory for Trump to give an American he hates to China, Iran, or North Korea... everyone wins.'
Routh, who earlier this week requested to represent himself in court, also questioned why the death penalty wasn't being considered, considering his age.
'At nearly 60, a life of nothingness without love — what is the point? Why is it not all or nothing?' he said. 'Why is the death penalty not allowed?'
In the same letter, he referred to himself as 'insignificant and useless' and apologized to the court for having to 'expend' energy toward him.
He also reiterated that he wanted to represent himself as his former counsel know 'nothing of who I am to to speak for me.'
'I had wished for a prisoner swap with Hamas , Iran ... or China for Jimmy Lai or one of the 40 others, or to freeze to death in Siberia (pictured) in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier... so I could die being of some use and save all this court mess,' he said in the letter
'They do not want the case and I no longer want to listen to how horrible a person I am - I can beat my own self up; I do not need help.
'Bashing me is fine, but selling hard to my daughter that I [am] a piece of s**t goes to another level - I do not enjoy that from those that are supposed to be on my side - unfortunate.
'Best I walk alone.'
He signed the letter: 'Sorry, Ryan W. Routh.'
The letter was dated June 29, but wasn't filed in federal court until Friday.
In May, Routh's court-appointed lawyers tried to drop two of the charges against him on Second Amendment grounds.
Routh's motion was signed by three federal public defenders.
It stated that the government doesn't object to certain 'ex parte' discussions between two parties about who would represent Routh.
But the government made known its objection to any such discussions about moving the trial date or granting a continuance.
Routh has been charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course last year before the presidential election. He has pleaded not guilty.
He allegedly set up a sniper hideout in a bush near the club and positioned himself with an illegally obtained SKS rifle and waited for the now-president to arrive.
But before Trump came into range, Secret Service said they found him and opened fire, causing the suspected wannabe assassin to flee.
He was later arrested that same day. Routh is expected to go to trial in September.
The Routh case is being heard in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida by Judge Aileen Cannon, the same Trump-appointed judge who heard the classified documents case against him.
In addition to the assassination attempt charges, Routh is charged with owning a handgun despite being a convicted felon and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
His team had argued the Constitution protects his ownership rights in both cases, despite a conviction for illegal possession of dynamite.
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