Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Left Letter Saying "200 Million If Assassination Completed"

A suspect arrested on charges of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump left a letter anticipating failure and promising a reward of 200 million won to anyone who would assassinate Trump.

According to documents submitted to the court by U.S. prosecutors on the 23rd (local time), the suspect, Ryan Rouse, left a box at a private residence several months before the incident.

Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Court Sketch.
[Image Source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The private individual opened the box on the 15th after Rouse was arrested at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, following the assassination attempt. The box contained ammunition, metal pipes, construction materials, tools, four cell phones, and various letters.

According to prosecutors, one letter written by Rouse was addressed to "the world." The letter stated, "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I have disappointed you. I did my best and summoned all the courage I could muster. Now you must finish the job. I will give $150,000 (approximately 200 million won) to anyone who can complete the task."

Letter left by the suspect in the Trump assassination attempt.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Mark Disphoto, a U.S. federal prosecutor, said the letter provides significant evidence of Rouse's intent. Since Rouse did not fire at the golf course during the incident, making it difficult to charge him with assassination, the letter could be used as evidence to prove the assassination attempt charge.

Rouse is currently charged with two offenses: possession of a firearm prohibited to convicted felons and possession of a firearm with a removed serial number, not with attempted assassination. He is being detained during the ongoing investigation.

The former President Trump's side has criticized the Department of Justice for mishandling and downplaying the clear assassination attempt.

On the day of the incident, former President Trump was between the 5th and 6th holes of the golf course, and prosecutors stated that Rouse's hiding place was directly facing the 6th hole. A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle protruding from the bushes and opened fire, exposing Rouse.

A convoy of vehicles believed to have carried Ryan Rouse, who is accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump, is leaving the courthouse after completing a detention hearing. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

The SKS semi-automatic rifle left behind by Rouse at the scene contained 11 bullets, with one round chambered. Rouse's fingerprints were found on tape attached to the rifle. The bag he left behind contained ceramic plates used in bulletproof vests, which tests showed could stop fire from a fire extinguisher.

FBI agents found six cell phones in Rouse's vehicle. Cell phone records showed that on August 14, Rouse traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach, where the golf course is located. Signal records confirmed that from August 18 to September 15, the date of the assassination attempt, he was near Trump International Golf Club and Mar-a-Lago residence.

One phone contained a Google search history for routes from Palm Beach County to Mexico. A passport was also found in the vehicle. Additionally, a notebook listing locations and dates where former President Trump attended or was expected to attend in August, September, and October of this year was discovered.