WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Secret Service agent fired six shots and missed from a distance of just five feet during an encounter with Ryan Ruth, the suspect accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to a newly released report by the Trump Assassination Task Force.
The report also revealed gaps in the security protocol on the day of the incident. Secret Service agents reportedly learned at 2:30 a.m. that Trump would be golfing later that day, yet the golf course was not secured until Ruth was spotted after camping on the grounds for 12 hours.
Ruth, who appeared in federal court earlier today, is expected to mount an insanity defense, with his legal team claiming he has been meeting with mental health professionals while in custody. Witnesses who interacted with Ruth before his arrest described him as hallucinating and delusional, according to court filings.
Prosecutors disclosed that Ruth had written nearly 40 letters to various news outlets in an effort to present himself as an “honorable” person, though the correspondence was intercepted before it could be delivered. Additionally, investigators found 18 cell phones in Ruth’s possession, 17 of which he owned. Authorities are now investigating the origin and significance of the remaining device.
The revelations raise new questions about security lapses and the suspect’s motives, as federal authorities continue their investigation into the high-profile case.