BBC: He is accused of attempting to kill Trump
The trial of Raut began, like many other court proceedings: with the jury selection, writes BBC. But then surprises started. Before U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon called potential jurors into the courtroom, she needed clarification on a question from the defense.
"There is a question about a turtle on the road: should it be stopped or moved?" — Judge Cannon read the question aloud.
Lawyers usually do not ask such whimsical questions during voir dire — the process used to examine potential jurors. But the man who submitted it is not a defense attorney. He is the defendant himself.
Attempt on a golf course
Prosecutors accuse Ryan Raut of surveilling the perimeter of Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach while he was playing, intending to kill him.
The alleged attempt, in which Raut is accused, occurred two months after an armed man opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, wounding Trump in the ear and killing his supporter.
FBI agents stated they found an SKS semi-automatic rifle with a scope and extended magazine in the area where Raut was hiding.
Prosecutors claim he shot at an agent who discovered him and then fled. He also allegedly left a list of places where Trump was supposed to appear and a note for a friend stating: "This was an attempt on Donald Trump."
Oddities of the defendant
Raut is charged with attempted murder of one of the main presidential candidates at the time, assaulting a federal officer, and two firearms-related crimes.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges and, despite the seriousness of his situation, claimed self-defense in court. But the peculiarities demonstrated by this defendant contrast with the gravity of the case.
His stream of bizarre requests to the court includes asking to duel President Trump or play a round of golf with him. Raut also requested to call Trump as a witness, calling the president in court documents "an insecure idiot — a crazy fool".
Federal Prosecutor John Shipley Jr. wanted to remove the turtle question from the record. "The absurdity" of the wording "diminishes the seriousness of this trial," he told Judge Cannon.
"I don't know how I would change it," Raut replied.
His other questions to potential jurors — about student protests for Palestine or the purchase of Greenland by the U.S. — were considered "completely inappropriate," Judge Cannon told him.
Refusal of lawyers
In July, the judge approved Raut's request to represent himself in court but ordered court-appointed lawyers to be on standby and warned him that his defenders could represent him "much better".
"I strongly urge you not to make this decision," — Judge said to the defendant regarding self-representation.
At that time, Raut stated that his lawyers were not answering his questions and that they were "a million miles away" from him.
Lawyer Niam Rakhmani, who is not involved in this case, said that "it is unusual for defendants to represent themselves".
"Those who do so at their own risk have a very high rate of convictions, and I do not expect this case to be any different. It is never a good idea to conduct a case pro se (on one's own behalf), especially in a high-profile case against experienced federal prosecutors," — the lawyer said.
The alleged attempt by Raut to kill Trump occurred two months after an armed man opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, wounding Trump in the ear and killing his supporter.
These two incidents drew attention to the escalation of political violence in the months leading up to the 2024 elections, in which Donald Trump ultimately won.
