Son of Ryan Routh, accused in Trump assassination attempt, arrested for child porn

ByAlexander Mallin ABCNews logo
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Prosecutors intend to ask grand jury to weigh attempted assassination charge against Ryan Routh
Prosecutors intend to ask a grand jury to consider a charge that Ryan Wesley Routh attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

The son of Ryan Routh, the man arrested in connection with the second apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, has been taken into custody on federal charges of possessing child pornography.

Investigators say they discovered "hundreds" of files with child pornography during a search of Oran Routh's residence in Guilford County, North Carolina, on Saturday conducted "in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation."

The two charges he faces include receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

NOTE: The video is from a previous report.

The "unrelated investigation" referred to Routh's father -- who remains in custody after a judge ordered him detained pending trial Monday -- a spokesperson with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Carolina confirmed to ABC News.

This photo provided by Hédi Aouidj shows Ryan Routh, a suspect in the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, in Maidan, Ukraine on April 10, 2024.
Ryan Routh, a suspect in the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, in Maidan, Ukraine on April 10, 2024.
Hédi Aouidj via AP

Investigators said the pornography was found on a Samsung Galaxy Note device located inside Oran Routh's primary bedroom in the residence, as well as another Galaxy Note device in Routh's possession.

"A review of the SD card located in Device-1 revealed that it contained hundreds of child pornography files," prosecutors wrote in the criminal complaint. "These files include videos from a known child pornography series created outside the state of North Carolina."

The complaint included graphic descriptions of the videos and a chat from July in which Oran Routh allegedly responded to someone advertising the content for sale.

Oran Routh will make an initial appearance in North Carolina federal court later Tuesday, where prosecutors are expected to seek his continued detention.

He does not yet have an attorney listed for him.

His father, Ryan Routh, 58, has been charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number for the incident that took place at Trump International Golf Club on Sept. 15. Prosecutors said Monday they intend to ask a grand jury to consider a charge that Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate Trump.

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