A federal judge has temporarily halted a lawsuit filed by then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, which accused the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) of improperly blocking a state-led investigation into an alleged assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore issued the order last week following a DOJ motion stating that both sides needed more time to determine how to proceed. The deadline for a DOJ response to the lawsuit has now been extended to April 28.
READ: Ontario Premier Urges Calm Amid U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions Over Trump Tariff Announcement
The lawsuit was initially filed on October 23, 2024, when Moody was still serving as Florida’s attorney general. However, since then, major political shifts have changed the landscape of the case:
- Trump was elected president in November, meaning the DOJ is now part of his administration.
- Moody has since been appointed to the U.S. Senate, replacing Marco Rubio, who now serves as Trump’s secretary of state.
These changes raise questions about whether the lawsuit will continue under Trump’s DOJ or if a resolution will be reached behind closed doors.
The case revolves around Ryan Routh, 58, who was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent in September 2024, allegedly hiding with a rifle in shrubbery near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where Trump was playing golf at the time.
A Secret Service agent fired at Routh, but he managed to escape and was later apprehended after a brief pursuit. Federal authorities swiftly filed charges against him, but Moody’s lawsuit argued that Florida should have been allowed to conduct its own investigation, potentially leading to additional state-level charges, including attempted murder.
READ: Trump Cuts U.S. Funding To South Africa Over Mistreatment Of “Certain Classes Of People”
The lawsuit accused the FBI—which falls under the DOJ—of interfering with Florida’s ability to pursue its own case against Routh. Moody argued that the state had jurisdiction over the matter and could bring charges beyond those filed by federal prosecutors.
However, the DOJ has not publicly explained why it allegedly blocked Florida’s involvement, and Judge Moore’s order did not provide further clarification.
With the case now on hold until at least April 28, it remains unclear whether the DOJ will continue defending against the lawsuit under Trump’s leadership or seek a resolution with Florida officials.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.