Four times, tips were made to U.S. government agencies about Ryan Routh’s suspicious behavior, including his plans to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nurse Chelsea Walsh reported Routh’s violent behavior in 2022 while he was recruiting foreign soldiers for the war in Ukraine but did not receive any response from the authorities. Despite raising concerns about Routh being a “ticking time bomb,” she did not hear back from Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, or Interpol. This lack of response is now being questioned as Routh stands accused of attempting an assassination on former President Donald Trump.
In addition to Walsh’s report, there were at least three other complaints made to the U.S. government about Routh’s behavior. One report in 2019 to the FBI mentioned Routh’s possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, while an aid worker’s online report to the State Department last year questioned his military recruiting tactics. Routh’s interview with Customs and Border Protection also raised concerns about possible further inquiries by Homeland Security Investigations. However, the response and actions taken by the agencies involved in these reports remain unclear, with some questioning the effectiveness of federal agencies in handling potential threats.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and ex-CIA officer Sarah Adams have both expressed concerns about whether federal agencies are adequately equipped to combat threats like the one posed by Routh. Adams had reported Routh’s recruitment tactics to the State Department after learning about his attempts to recruit former Afghan fighters with false promises of spots in the Ukrainian military. Despite issuing a bulletin and an online report, there is no record of any complaints about Routh at the State Department, raising questions about the follow-up on reported threats.
In June 2023, Routh was questioned by Customs and Border Protection agents about his activities overseas when he returned from Ukraine, Poland, and Turkey. Routh admitted to recruiting fighters from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan, claiming his wife was funding his efforts. He presented a business card stating he was the director of the International Volunteer Center. While agents referred Routh’s case to Homeland Security Investigations for further scrutiny, the agency declined to pursue the matter. This decision has come under scrutiny as it raises doubts about the thoroughness of the investigation into Routh’s activities.
The executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, Katrina Berger, confirmed that the agency receives hundreds of requests daily and stated that Routh’s comments didn’t warrant immediate custody. However, she was uncertain about whether a further investigation into Routh was declined and committed to looking into the matter. This lack of clarity in the response to multiple reports and tips about Routh’s concerning behavior highlights the need for federal agencies to be more vigilant and proactive in addressing potential threats to national security.
As the case of Ryan Routh continues to unravel, questions are arising about the adequacy of responses by U.S. government agencies to reported threats. The failure to follow up on multiple tips and reports about Routh’s behavior and plans raises concerns about the effectiveness of federal agencies in preventing potential security risks. With more people coming forward with information about suspicious activities, there is a growing need for agencies to enhance their capabilities in detecting and combating threats before they escalate into dangerous situations like the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
