### House Judiciary Probes DOJ Over Release of Trump Assassination Plan

The House Judiciary Committee is delving into the Justice Department's recent decision to publish the manifesto of Ryan Routh, the suspect facing charges for the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has raised concerns that making the manifesto public could prompt copycat attempts and further endanger public safety.

Fox News Digital obtained a letter from Jordan to Attorney General Merrick Garland, expressing alarm over the release of Routh's letter detailing his plans to assassinate Trump. Routh was apprehended after a Secret Service agent spotted his rifle protruding through a chain-link fence at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was golfing at the time.

In a recent court filing, the DOJ made public Routh's manifesto, which described his actions as “an assassination attempt on Donald Trump” and included an offer of $150,000 to anyone who could "complete the job" if he failed. Jordan criticized this move by the DOJ, pointing out that the Department typically refrains from releasing manifestos written by perpetrators of high-profile crimes due to the risk of inciting additional attacks.

Jordan emphasized that the release of the manifesto contradicts the DOJ’s usual policy, which suggests that public access to such documents, or "legacy tokens," could fuel further attacks by attracting intense interest from potential copycats and providing a blueprint for future crimes.

Jordan has demanded that the DOJ turn over all documents and communications related to the FBI's "Protection of Legacy Tokens" memo from May 2023, as well as any records connected to the decision to release Routh’s letter. He has set a deadline of 5 p.m. on October 9 for these records to be submitted.

Routh, aged 58, faces severe charges, including the attempted assassination of Trump—a charge that carries a possible life sentence. In addition, he has been federally charged with possessing a gun with a scratched-out serial number and for illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. His weapon was found to be loaded with 11 rounds, including one in the chamber. This incident marks the second assassination attempt on Trump this year.