The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), has launched an investigation into the Department of Justice’s decision to release a manifesto written by Ryan Wesley Routh, the man charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump. The manifesto, which promised a $150,000 bounty for Trump’s assassination, was included in a court filing earlier this week.
Routh was arrested on September 15 after allegedly attempting to shoot Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although he did not fire, Secret Service agents reported that Routh had already taken aim at Trump before being apprehended.
Jordan expressed outrage over the public release of the manifesto, calling it a threat to Trump’s safety. He questioned why the DOJ would make such sensitive information public, noting that the Department has typically withheld manifestos tied to violent crimes. “The Department’s decision to broadcast the attempted assassin’s bounty on President Trump… raises significant concern,” Jordan wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Jordan linked the DOJ’s actions to its ongoing prosecutions of Trump, suggesting that the release of the manifesto could result in additional threats. He also pointed out that this release could undermine current Justice Department guidelines, posing a danger to Trump’s safety by providing a roadmap for future attacks.
The Judiciary Committee is now investigating whether the DOJ is acting impartially in its handling of the case. Jordan has requested that the DOJ submit all documents and communications related to the manifesto, as well as the FBI’s “Protection of Legacy Tokens” memorandum. The Department has been asked to respond by October 9, 2024.
