In a significant development linked to the ongoing investigation into an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that two North Carolina residents have admitted to selling a rifle to Ryan Routh, the man charged with attempting to kill the former president at his Florida golf club last year.
Who Was Charged and Why It Matters
Tina Brown Cooper and Ronnie Jay Oxendine, both of Greensboro, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in separate federal cases involving the illegal transfer and possession of firearms. Prosecutors say the pair were directly involved in the sale of a Chinese-made SKS rifle to Routh in August, only weeks before he was allegedly discovered armed outside Trump’s golf resort in West Palm Beach.
Routh, who has a felony conviction from 2002, was prohibited from owning firearms. He has been charged with the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and unlawful possession of a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty and is set to stand trial in September.
Details of the Transaction
According to court filings tied to the plea agreements, Cooper facilitated the firearm sale between Routh and Oxendine by acting as a go-between. Cooper allegedly arranged the meeting at the roofing company where she worked, owned by Oxendine. Routh, law enforcement claims, paid $350 in cash to Oxendine for the rifle and an additional $100 to Cooper for arranging the deal.
The DOJ said Cooper admitted to telling the FBI that Routh claimed the firearm was intended “for his son to use as protection.” Cooper also reportedly acknowledged that Routh could not legally purchase a gun under his name due to his past conviction.
Connection to Trump Assassination Attempt
Routh was apprehended six weeks after the sale, allegedly in possession of an SKS-style rifle near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club. While prosecutors have not confirmed whether the seized weapon is the exact firearm purchased from Oxendine and Cooper, the timeline raises serious concerns.
This incident comes just two months after Trump survived a shooting during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, heightening the urgency of addressing security threats against political figures. Although the DOJ has not alleged that Cooper or Oxendine knew about Routh’s intentions, Cooper later admitted to federal agents that she deleted files from her phone to distance herself from the case and initially lied out of fear of facing charges.
Background on the Defendants and Their Relationship with Routh
Cooper and Oxendine both have personal histories with Routh that go back decades. Oxendine told federal agents he met Routh in the 1990s when both ran roofing companies, but emphasized they were not friends. Cooper worked for Routh during the same period, further complicating the personal and legal entanglements.
Prosecutors also accused Cooper of giving “inconsistent stories” and later admitting to being “guilty” of aiding a prohibited person in obtaining a firearm. One court filing states Cooper encouraged Oxendine to lie to investigators and avoid cooperation after Routh’s arrest.
Oxendine, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun discovered in his storage building during the investigation. He is not accused of any direct involvement in the alleged assassination attempt.
Legal and Political Implications
The case has drawn intense public and political scrutiny, especially with Trump once again running for office. While Routh’s motive has not been publicly detailed by prosecutors, the sale of an illegal weapon to a prohibited person allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate a former U.S. president raises urgent questions about firearm access and trafficking.
The defendants have not been charged with conspiracy or direct knowledge of the plot, but their actions and admissions may play a role in the broader investigation into how Routh obtained his weapon.
What’s Next
- Ryan Routh: Set to stand trial in September. He has recently requested to fire his public defenders.
- Tina Brown Cooper: Pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking on Monday. Sentencing is expected in the coming months.
- Ronnie Jay Oxendine: Pleaded guilty to unlawful firearm possession last month.
Attorneys for all three individuals have not publicly commented on the charges.
Conclusion
This latest revelation from the Department of Justice underscores the complexity of the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt against Donald Trump. While Routh awaits trial, the legal consequences for those who helped him illegally acquire a firearm continue to unfold. The case also spotlights enduring gaps in preventing dangerous individuals from obtaining weapons, particularly amid rising political tensions.
