To understand why Routh's actions could be considered an attempted assassination under federal law, even though he did not fire his weapon or get physically close to Trump, it's important to examine the legal definition of a criminal attempt.
In criminal law, an "attempt" to commit a crime occurs when a person:
- Has the specific intent to commit that crime, and
- Takes a substantial step toward completing the crime, even if they ultimately fail or are prevented from carrying it out.
The key elements are the person's criminal intent and taking a substantial step that goes beyond mere preparation.