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Potential jurors return for trial of Ryan Routh, suspect charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump

'I am MAGA and I love my president,' one woman, who was one of the 20 people dismissed, said on Tuesday morning

Martin County Sheriff's Office

Ryan Wesley Routh

By: David Fischer

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FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A prospective juror being screened Tuesday for the trial of a man charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida was dismissed after saying he was present at Ryan Routh's arrest.

Another man was excused during the second day of jury selection after saying that Routh had left a voicemail message at the construction company where he works several days before the assassination attempt. A woman was dismissed after saying she knew a deputy on the witness list.

Another juror was struck from the case after taking a photo of Routh.

WATCH BELOW: Prospective juror takes photo of Ryan Routh

Prospective juror takes photo of Ryan Routh

By midafternoon Tuesday, 70 of the 180 potential jurors had been excused during the first round of jury selection. Those who remained included a golf course superintendent who said Trump had offered him a job at a golf course in West Palm Beach several decades ago, but he had turned it down.

The potential jurors were asked Tuesday morning whether they had hardships that would prevent them from serving on the jury and if they could adhere to the presumption of innocence for the defendant.

A woman raised her hand and told U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that she had been following the case since the incident occurred, and it would be hard to change her opinion.

"I am MAGA and I love my president," said the woman, who was one of the 20 people dismissed from the jury pool Tuesday morning.

Cannon signed off on Routh's request to represent himself, but said court-appointed attorneys needed to remain as standby counsel.

During a hearing on Monday to go over questions that would be asked of jurors, Cannon dismissed questions Routh wanted to ask jurors as irrelevant. They included asking jurors about their views on Gaza, the talk of the U.S. acquiring Greenland and what they would do if they were driving and saw a turtle in the road.

The judge approved most of the other questions for jurors submitted by prosecutors.

WATCH BELOW: Martin Co. sheriff looks back at Routh arrest

Sheriff's office says Ryan Routh arrest was one of the biggest in agency's history

Routh's trial begins nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh's attempt to shoot the Republican presidential nominee. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived another attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump's ear, before being shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.

More of WPTV's coverage of Trump assassination attempt below: