Florida will launch criminal investigation into alleged Trump assassination attempt, governor says – Daily News

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and STEPHANY MATAT, Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida state law enforcement will launch its own criminal investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, parallel to the federal investigation, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.

The governor said Florida prosecutors would seek the most serious charges possible under state law, including attempted murder, in the statewide investigation into Ryan Wesley Routh, who was indicted on Monday on gun violations.

“We have a very strong interest in bringing this suspect to justice,” DeSantis told reporters.

It is common for state and federal law enforcement agencies to conduct criminal investigations simultaneously because states may be able to bring charges that are not possible at the federal level, and vice versa.

Routh has only been charged with gun crimes at the federal level, but more charges are possible as Justice Department prosecutors seek a grand jury indictment. Prosecutors often file the first charges they see quickly and add more serious charges as the investigation progresses.

“We will spare no resources in this investigation,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday during an event at the Justice Department.

Markenzy Lapointe, the top federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida, declined to comment on the state's investigation.

DeSantis said the case will be handled by the Florida State Attorney General's Office, led by Attorney General Ashley Moody.

The FBI has interviewed family members, friends and co-workers of the suspect and is working to gather evidence. Authorities have applied for search warrants to gain access to a video recording device, cell phones, a vehicle and electronic devices at Routh's previous addresses.

A motive was not disclosed, and Routh exercised his right to an attorney during questioning, officials said.