Ryan Routh, the 58-year-old man accused of attempting to assassinate US President-elect Donald Trump, has made claims in a jailhouse letter, including offering to become a Hamas hostage, according to the New York Post.
Routh, who is awaiting trial at a federal prison in Miami, made the unusual request in a two-page letter obtained by The Post, where he asked for help to surrender to Hamas in exchange for a hostage’s life.
“Will you go with me to Gaza and surrender to Hamas in exchange for a hostage life, please?” Routh wrote. “Will you help me stop the killing of innocent children and families by offering yourself to restart the peace process and end this war?”
“I would say that I am willing to surrender in Gaza . . . merely to restart the peace conversation,” Routh added.
In the same letter, Routh claimed to have been deeply moved by the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, writing that he had been “crying” over Hamilton’s death in a duel.
Routh also compared himself to George Bailey, the kind-hearted banker in the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. In this context, Routh seems to be using the reference to express his desire for a better world. George Bailey is known for his selflessness, kindness, and willingness to help others, even at his own expense.
“I wish for a world where we always put in more than we take out,” he wrote. “I feel as George Bailey, wondering if there is support and value in honour, dignity, righteousness, meek, modest, altruism, magnanimity, empathy, kindness, caring [and] sacrifice.”
Routh also expressed his support for university students who backed Hamas, condemning US leaders for dismantling their Gaza solidarity tents.
His daughter, Sara Routh, 31, confirmed the authenticity of the letter and expressed her efforts to promote the hostage swap through the social media account @GazaHostageSwap, according to the Post.
In his letter, he claimed to have “unlimited time and funds to travel to D.C., Qatar, Gaza, or anywhere else to deliver the new hostages,” though he is currently in prison awaiting trial.
Ryan Routh was arrested on September 15 after being found near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a rifle and a scope. He was within 300 to 450 metres of Trump before he was apprehended.
