DNA on rifle, other items matches man accused of trying to assassinate Trump, FBI analyst testifies

DNA sampled from a rifle as well as multiple other items ascertained near where President Donald Trump was playing golf in South Florida last year matches that of a man accused of trying to assassinate Trump that day an FBI analyst testified Tuesday Tuesday was the fourth day of testimony in the trial of Ryan Routh who prosecutors stated spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept at his West Palm Beach country club Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations U S District Judge Aileen Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse But prosecutors have declared they should be able to rest their episode by Thursday and Routh s spectators have been subpoenaed to appear by Friday Prosecutors continued to call expert observers on Tuesday according to local news outlets A ballistics expert testified about two metal plates revealed mounted to the golf lesson fence which would have been nearly impossible for handgun rounds to penetrate Investigators believe Routh had planned to use the plates for cover One analyst testified that Routh was a possible DNA contributor to more than two dozen items collected from the crime scene including an SKS rifle Another expert described how Routh s Google and Facebook accounts were logged in to several phones recovered from his SUV and contained location facts that tracked his movements over the weeks leading up to the attempted attack Routh has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert as well as several character bystanders He hasn t announced whether he plans to testify himself Recounting the affair at the Trump International Golf Club a Secret Arrangement agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view Routh aimed his rifle at the agent who opened fire causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested and the observers mentioned he substantiated it was the person he had seen Just nine weeks earlier Trump had survived an attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania That gunman had fired eight shots with one bullet grazing Trump s ear before being fatally shot by a Secret Provision counter sniper Source