The Biden-Harris government's Department of Homeland Security declined a request for further investigation of Ryan Routh-the second would-be assassin of former President Donald J. Trump-after he was flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when reentering the country from Ukraine in June 2023.
Border agents interviewed Routh as a person of interest at the Honolulu airport last year, according to agency documents.
A memo filed by the CBP indicates border agents were aware that Routh had traveled to Poland in 2022 and to Turkey in 2023 and was suspected of having continued on to Ukraine.
During his interview with CBP, the future would-be assassin claimed his travels were part of an effort to recruit over 100 foreign fighters from Afghanistan and other nations to fight against the Russian invasion.
"Subject is a USC who had traveled to Kiev, Ukraine for 3 months to help recruit Soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan to fight in the Ukrainian war against Russia," the border patrol agents' interview notes read. They add: "Subject stated that he does not get paid for his recruiting efforts and all his work for the Ukrainian government is strictly volunteer work. Subject provided his recruiting business card which lists his recruiting partners that he speaks with to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Romanian, Pakistan, Syria, and Israel."The CBP memo also states that Routh was subsequently referred to the Biden-Harris DHS's Homeland Security Investigations unit for further investigation.
In 2019, Routh-a convicted felon-was flagged by federal law enforcement over suspicions he illegally possessed a firearm.
In June 2022, a nurse who had encountered Routh in Ukraine notified CBP agents that he was potentially dangerous and exhibited bizarre and predatory behavior.
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