The fact that Donald Trump’s alleged killer apparently knew when he would be playing golf raises the possibility that he was tipped off, a former FBI assistant director told DailyMail.com.
In the hours since a Secret Service agent shot a man who authorities say tried to assassinate the former president, law enforcement officials have been gathering information about suspect Ryan Wesley Routh. Still unanswered is how he was able to conceal himself in brush with an AK-47 near the sixth hole of Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach.
Trump’s golf schedule is not made public in advance, although the former president plays the sport regularly.
“If you think outside the four corners here, there could be someone at that club – at Mar a Lago, or at the golf club – who just doesn’t like him and has different political views. And you know, they could have passed this information on,” former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told DailyMail.com, describing a possible scenario or motive.
He said Routh could have received information about Trump’s movements, either intentionally or through someone who unknowingly shared it. Or Routh could have been watching and studying Trump’s movements to prepare for his act, and put his knowledge into practice, he said.
A former top FBI official questions how Ryan Wesley Routh knew to set up shop near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, and whether he had inside information
“I mean, there’s only a couple of possibilities here. One is that this guy had inside information, and had enough time to go to that fifth hole — that location between the fifth and sixth holes, and set himself up.”
“So if someone had warned them when Trump hit the first tee, it would have taken him about an hour and fifteen hours and twenty minutes to get to that spot.” That would have given “plenty of time,” he said, outlining the possibility.
“The other possibility is that he is monitoring the former president and watching Mar-a-Lago to see when he leaves, or he is physically following him and his vehicle and knows exactly where he went,” he said.
“The third possibility is that he got lucky. I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s one of the first two, and neither of those has good implications,” he concluded.
The South Florida criminal complaint alleges that Routh was near the tree line for nearly 12 hours, based on cell phone records. This information could refute the idea that he had specialized help, or suggest that he had only general information.
The suspect was able to get a gun in the area without any official warning that Trump would be there
A criminal complaint alleges he lived near the tree line of Trump’s golf course for nearly 12 years
Routh reportedly had no specialized training, and his far-fetched attempts to interfere in Ukraine’s defense against Russia appear to have been roundly dismissed. However, there is evidence of preparation and foresight, according to some of the initial evidence.
One of these concerns backpacks containing ceramics, which could provide protection against gunfire.
They were “strategically hanging from the chain link fence… as if they were trying to protect him as he stood and used the chain link fence as a mount. And it appeared to me that he was planning to shoot at the former president as he walked parallel to him.”
An official investigating the case went a step further, raising the possibility of a “conspiracy,” without giving any clues about a possible accomplice.
“How does a guy from here come all the way to Trump International, realize that the president — former president of the United States is out golfing and be able to get a gun in that area? I think that’s a question that the FBI and Secret Service are focused on today,” Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder said in a televised briefing Monday.
“Is this guy part of a conspiracy? Is he a lone gunman,” Snyder asked.
Swecker wants to know, among other things, whether the suspect set up his sniper nest quickly or ‘whether he planned and mapped this out in advance.’
Earlier, he expressed his concerns to DailyMail.com about the apology given by former Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle after the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In recent hours, several officials have released information about security protocols to protect the president.
“At this level that he’s at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw
“I imagine the next time he comes to a golf course, there’ll probably be a few more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done,” he said.
Swecker said, “I guarantee you the FBI is going to shut that sheriff down right now and they’re not going to talk about a lot of details because they’re in protection mode, particularly prosecution mode. And the U.S. Attorney’s office is going to be tough on the bureau. The bureau is going to be tough on the sheriff and we’re not going to get a lot of details, even though they know a lot,” he said.