Image Credit: NICOLAS GARCIA / Contributor / Getty Images 
Ryan Routh will be unable to access classified material relating to the case against him for attempting to murder President Trump last year at his West Palm Beach golf course.
Judge Aileen Cannon ruled on Friday that certain information relating to the case could not be disclosed, because it “could cause serious damage or exceptionally grave damages to the national security of the United States.”
Routh, who is representing himself in the case, has been denied full discovery—the ability to view all documents and evidence being used by the prosecution—because he is considered to be a national-security risk.
He was strongly urged to allow his court-appointed attorneys to represent him.
Routh is charged with attempting to kill Donald Trump on 15 September last year, as well as assaulting a federal officer and a number of firearms violations.
At the end of June, Routh wrote a letter to Judge Cannon asking for the death penalty to be included in his case, since he didn’t want to “live a life of nothingness without love,” and he also asked whether he could be used as part of a prisoner swap.
“Perhaps you have the power to trade me away,” Routh continued.
“What an easy diplomatic victory for Trump to give an American he hates to China, Iran or North Korea or wherever as a gesture of peace for an unjustly held democratic prisoner — everyone wins.”
A few weeks ago, Routh’s son Oran was sentenced to seven years in prison on child pornography charges.
Oran Routh was arrested after investigators found hundreds of child-porn images on his mobile phone during a search of his residence related to his father’s attempt to assassinate Donald Trump last year.
He pled guilty to a charge of possessing child pornography of a child under the age of 12. He pled guilty to the charge in exchange for his other charges, which included multiple charges of possessing and transporting child pornography.
During the trial, it was revealed that Oran Routh used encrypted messaging apps to engage with people who shared and created child pornography.
After his father’s failed attempt on Donald Trump’s life at his West Palm Beach golf course, Oran Routh spoke to the media and described how his father hated Trump, but was “not a violent person.”
“My dad hates Trump like every reasonable person does,” he told The Daily Mail, before adding “He’s not a violent person.”
“He’s my dad and all he’s had is couple traffic tickets, as far as I know… That’s crazy. I know my dad and love my dad, but that’s nothing like him.”
“He said he was at the beach, but I thought that meant the outer banks in Hawaii.”
Oran Routh also described a “falling out” with his father, but declined to provide any further details.
