**Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in Alleged Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump**

A man accused of attempting to assassinate former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Ryan Routh, 58, entered his plea during a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Monday. The charges against him include the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.

In the courtroom, Routh appeared wearing a beige prison uniform with shackles on his wrists and ankles. When asked by the judge if he was aware of the charges, Routh responded affirmatively, stating, "yes, your honour." Besides the assassination charge, Routh faces additional allegations of assaulting a federal officer and various firearms offenses. He has been ordered to remain in jail until his trial.

Prosecutors allege that Routh aimed to kill Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15. His arrest occurred when a Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of a rifle protruding from the brush along the golf course's perimeter. The agent fired at Routh, who then fled in a vehicle but was apprehended shortly afterward.

Routh, who works as a roofing contractor, has previously condemned Trump in a self-published book. Prosecutors presented a letter, left months earlier with an associate, in which Routh referenced an assassination attempt on Trump. "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you," wrote Routh, according to court documents.

During a court hearing on September 23, Routh's lawyers suggested that the letter might have been a publicity stunt. They also emphasized Routh's efforts to promote democracy in Ukraine and Taiwan, portraying him as someone dedicated to political causes rather than a criminal.

This incident marks the second apparent assassination attempt against Trump in recent months. In July, Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, leading to significant criticism and questions about the event's security measures. The U.S. Secret Service recently acknowledged multiple failures, including "deficiencies" in security planning and poor coordination with local law enforcement. Ronald Rowe Jr., the agency's acting director, admitted that while some team members were diligent, complacency among others led to a breach of security protocols.