Routh discussed his plans to buy a rocket-propelled grenade or Stinger weapon with a source, whose identity was not revealed in the court filing, in a Signal chat.

“To that end, Routh told his associate to ‘send me an rpg [rocket propelled grenade] or stinger and I will see what we can do…[Trump] is not good for Ukraine,’” the filing said.

Routh asked whether it could be shipped to him and inquired about the price. He said he “needed equipment so that Trump cannot get elected.” He suggested that such a weapon would not be missed if it was taken.

“Going to the local store for such an item is impossible — however you are at war so those items lost and destroyed daily — one missing would not be noticed. Do you think Trump will be good for Ukraine?????” he said.

He sent an image of Trump’s plane to his associate and said, “Trump’s plane, he gets on and off daily,” suggesting he wanted to target the plane with an explosive weapon.

The Justice Department wrote in the filing that his attempt to buy a rocket launcher is “direct evidence of Routh’s assassination attempt because it is itself a substantial step taken in furtherance of his plot.”

The DOJ also argued that Routh’s attempt to purchase the weapons, while an unlikely occurrence, proves his mental state while taking those steps.

The agency cited Routh’s prior surveillance of Palm Beach International Airport, “his active tracking of President Trump’s plane, and his stated intent to destroy that plane in the ‘Dear World’ letter.”

Routh’s “Dear World” letter, found in a box at his residence, stated, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”

TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The evidence introduced, of Routh attempting to buy the weapons, will likely bolster the case against him. Routh allegedly hid in bushes with a rifle at Trump’s golf course with the intent to kill the then-former president on Sept. 15, 2024.

If convicted, Routh faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.