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The man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year was given clearance by a federal judge Thursday to represent himself in his upcoming trial.
Ryan Routh appeared in front of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce a day after his court-appointed attorneys asked to be removed from the case. However, Cannon ruled that Routh’s attorneys must remain on standby and denied their request to be withdrawn.
Prior to allowing Routh to represent himself, Cannon told him that his court-appointed attorneys “will defend you far better than you can defend yourself” and “I strongly urge you not to make this decision.”
“These are nice ladies… How [can] they defend me and say I’m not a dangerous person if they’re afraid of me?” Routh said at one point. “They don’t appreciate me and they’re