Ryan Routh, a suspected assassin who allegedly targeted former President Donald Trump, had been flagged by U.S. federal agents after returning from Ukraine last year, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to take any action.

Routh, who was accused of plotting an assassination attempt on Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club, had previously been involved in recruiting foreign fighters to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The DHS’s lack of follow-up raises concerns about missed opportunities to prevent this alleged assassination attempt.

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Routh was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in June 2023 when he landed at Honolulu International Airport.

During an interview, Routh revealed that he had spent three months in Ukraine recruiting soldiers from countries like Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan to fight in Ukraine’s war against Russia.

He had previously traveled to Poland and Turkey in 2022 and 2023. Despite these revelations, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division of the DHS declined to pursue the case.

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“Subject is a USC who had traveled to Kiev, Ukraine for 3 months to help recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan,” the CBP notes read. “Subject stated that he does not get paid for his recruiting efforts and all his work for the Ukrainian government is strictly volunteer work.”

Routh provided the CBP agents with a business card identifying himself as the director of an organization called the “International Volunteer Center.”

The business card listed his recruiting partners across various countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Israel.

Despite the evidence provided during the interview, HSI opted not to follow up on the information, and the case was left unresolved.

Routh’s foreign travel and connections to Ukraine were not the first time he had raised concerns with law enforcement. In 2019, he was under suspicion by the FBI for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri.

Assassin was “known to the FBI…” because of course he was. I’m grateful that Florida was running their own investigation, thanks to Gov DeSantis, or I imagine much of what we find out would never otherwise be known. pic.twitter.com/dODLVvZTyR

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 17, 2024

However, no significant action was taken at that time either.

This pattern of missed opportunities continued, as Routh’s growing ties to Ukraine and his self-proclaimed efforts to recruit foreign fighters apparently did not prompt further investigation.

Chelsea Walsh, a nurse who had interacted with Routh while volunteering in Ukraine, reported her concerns to U.S. authorities at Washington Dulles Airport in 2022, warning that Routh exhibited “Overall Predatory Behavior” and raised suspicions about his activities.

EXCLUSIVE: The American nurse who flagged would-be assassin Ryan Routh to @DHSgov when they were in Ukraine tells Primetime he talked about assassinations ALL THE TIME. Chelsea Walsh says Routh had very volatile tendencies and often talked of harming world leaders, but her calls… pic.twitter.com/P5r03v6eMC

— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) September 18, 2024

Despite these warnings, no significant action was taken by federal authorities.

The situation escalated when Routh was found at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 17, 2023. According to reports, Routh had been hiding in the shrubbery around the perimeter of the course, setting up a sniper’s nest.

He was able to remain undetected for 12 hours before Secret Service agents opened fire on him after he pointed his rifle through the fence.

Routh’s attempt on Trump’s life was thwarted, but questions remain about how he was able to plan and execute such an attack without earlier intervention from federal authorities.

Routh’s ties to Ukraine are now under further scrutiny. His social media accounts were reportedly filled with pro-Ukraine propaganda, and he had even appeared in videos with Ukrainian fighters, including members of the controversial AZOV battalion.

His involvement with Ukrainian forces, coupled with his criminal background, should have raised red flags, but the federal response remained insufficient.

The International Volunteer Center, the organization Routh claimed to represent, has since denied any connection to him. Officials from the group stated that their organization was only officially registered in Ukraine in October 2023, after Routh had returned to the U.S. They added that they had no knowledge of Routh or any prior organization by that name.

Routh’s criminal history dates back to his time in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was charged with multiple offenses, including felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

Most of these offenses took place in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Who was the DA in Guilford County at the time of Ryan Routh’s offenses? I believe it was Doug Henderson. https://t.co/IWB9MFoNpF

Presently, the DA for Guilford County is Avery Crump. pic.twitter.com/JrlWWSjUDo

— ℎ (@chiIIum) September 16, 2024

His criminal record, combined with his recent activities in Ukraine, made him a potential threat, yet federal agencies seemed to overlook the danger.

Jeff Danik, a 28-year veteran of the FBI, emphasized the need for U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate Routh’s contacts and activities abroad. “An American traipsing around in that battleground is going to perceive focus,” Danik said. “I would be shocked if one of the intelligence agencies didn’t have his devices compromised.”

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Former FBI agent Jeff Danik confirms that an American engaging in recruitment efforts in a war-torn zone should have attracted significant attention from intelligence agencies. The lack of action speaks volumes about the… https://t.co/QzoAjwug6O

— KT -TRUTHER (@KT_TRUTHER) September 17, 2024

The failed oversight of Routh’s case highlights the gaps in federal enforcement when it comes to tracking and investigating individuals with dangerous histories who travel internationally.

As more details emerge, it remains unclear why DHS and HSI chose not to investigate Routh further, especially given the clear warning signs presented during his travels and interviews with U.S. border authorities.

Routh’s assassination attempt on Trump adds to a growing list of incidents in which individuals with criminal records or suspicious foreign connections have managed to slip through the cracks of federal oversight, raising concerns about national security and the effectiveness of intelligence gathering.

Federal agencies are now under pressure to provide answers as to how Routh was able to evade detection for so long despite numerous warning signs.

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