Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, we’ve got some really compelling stories to share with you right now, and here’s what’s going on.
Ryan Routh, the suspect in the second assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, left behind evidence of his intentions, the federal judge in this case is holding Routh behind bars without bail, and a sheriff’s office in Ohio has been removed from an election security detail.
Also, the CDC is sounding the alarm over a very contagious cough, and a 70-year-old cold case concludes with a bittersweet ending.
Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Left Note
A document submitted by Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors in court yesterday showed that 58-year-old Ryan Routh allegedly put a handwritten note in a box he left with a friend. That note, which was addressed to the “World” reads: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”It was filed before a federal judge denied bond during a court hearing yesterday, agreeing with prosecutors’ arguments that Routh is a flight risk, a risk to the community, and should be held before his trial.
You should know that this evidence was discovered three days after Routh was arrested, and by a person who said that Routh dropped off the box at his location in the months prior to the incident. The box included ammunition, phones, and various letters, according to the court documents.
By the way, those letters were filled with names and phone numbers pertaining to Ukraine and how to join combat forces on behalf of Ukraine. Also, posts made by Routh on X and other social media sites showed that he was an avid supporter of Ukraine in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, and posted images and videos of himself in Kyiv and other areas in Ukraine since the war began.
Cell phone records from two of the recovered phones show that Routh traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach on Aug. 14. Additionally, a cell phone that was recovered by authorities showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County, Florida, to Mexico.
Currently, Routh faces federal firearms charges in connection to the Sept. 15 alleged assassination attempt. Prosecutors say he camped out near Trump’s Florida golf course for 12 hours before his gun barrel was spotted by a Secret Service agent, who then fired at the suspect before he fled the scene.
Interesting to note, Routh made critical comments about Trump, including several in July that referenced the first assassination attempt, which was in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
Judge Denies Bail for Trump Assassination Suspect
At a federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe agreed with prosecutors’ arguments that Routh should be denied bond.Routh’s two public defenders had asked for a $250,000 bond that would be co-signed by his sister, who is said to be a lawyer in good standing based in North Carolina.
McCabe says he’s convinced that substantial evidence showed Routh “stalked” Trump over the past 30 days, citing court records filed yesterday that showed Routh’s cellphone was in the vicinity of Trump’s golf course about a month before the Sept. 15 apparent assassination attempt.
He also had a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October 2024 and venues where the former President had appeared or was expected to be.
You should know that Routh was charged last week with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Because the FBI has said that it was an assassination attempt, Routh will likely face more charges.
By the way, Routh has a criminal history. He’s been arrested several times and was convicted on felony charges back in 2002.
Ohio Sheriff Removed From Election Security Plan
The Portage County Board of Elections in Ohio has voted to remove Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski’s office from its election security plan after he made a controversial post about people who display Vice President Kamala Harris yard signs.A member of the board said it was necessary, noting that recent public comments indicated that “there is perceived intimidation” by the sheriff “against certain voters.”
Zuchowski is being criticized after posting a screenshot of a Fox News segment that criticized the Biden–Harris administration for the border crisis on his personal Facebook page. In the post, Zuchowski suggested writing down the addresses of the people who had Harris signs in their yards so they’ll know where to send illegal immigrants whom he referred to as “human locusts.”
By the way, as of yesterday, the post no longer appears on his Facebook account, and in a separate post, he said that his comments may have been misinterpreted. He went on to say that he believes that those who vote for individuals with liberal policies should accept responsibility for their actions.
You should know that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said that Zuchowski has the right “to say what he wants to” on social media, but he thinks the sheriff’s comments were “unfortunate” and “not helpful.” Also, the ACLU weighed in, saying Zuchowski’s statement posed an “impermissible” threat against residents who wish to engage in protected First Amendment activity.
CDC Reports Whooping Cough on the Rise in US
Recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that cases of whooping cough have increased across the United States compared to last year.So far, the CDC says there have been nearly 14,600 confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, in 2024, compared to only 3,500 cases reported for all of 2023.
Health officials say that whooping cough, considered highly contagious, is particularly dangerous for younger children, especially infants. They say that the Bordetella pertussis bacteria impacts the respiratory system.
You should know that pertussis can start off like the common cold, but its cough can last for several months, and the CDC says the intense coughing can cause people to vomit.
It can cause a low-grade fever, difficulty sleeping, breathing problems, and a cough so severe it can even lead to rib fractures. By the way, the disease is spread through coughing and sneezing.
Last week, one case of whooping cough resulted in the cancellation of a college football game between South Dakota and Portland State.
Recently, both the Alaska and Florida Departments of Health issued statements on their websites about the increase in whooping cough. In fact, Florida health officials say the number of pertussis cases reported in July of this year is up from June and above the previous five-year average.
You should know the CDC says that childhood vaccines, like the DTaP shot, are the best way to prevent pertussis, but that it still occurs in both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.
Boy Abducted From California in 1951 at Age 6 Found Alive
Luis Armando Albino was 6 years old back when he was abducted while playing at an Oakland, California, park. Now, more than seven decades later, Albino has been found thanks to an online ancestry test, old photos, and newspaper clippings.The Bay Area News Group reported that 63-year-old Alida Alequin, the niece of the then missing boy in Oakland—with help from police, the FBI, and the Justice Department—located her uncle, who is now living on the East Coast, and reunited him with his California family in June of this year.
Here’s the backstory to this amazing case. In February 1951, a woman lured then 6-year-old Albino from the West Oakland park where he had been playing with his older brother and promised him, in Spanish, since he was Puerto Rican, that she would buy him candy.
Instead, she kidnapped him, flying him to the East Coast where he ended up with a couple who raised him as if he were their own son.
Oakland Tribune articles from back in the day reported that police, soldiers from a local army base, the Coast Guard, and other city employees joined a massive search for the missing boy. The San Francisco Bay and other local waterways were also searched. His brother, Roger, was interrogated several times by investigators, but stood by his story about a woman with a bandana around her head taking his brother.
You should know the first notion that her uncle might still be alive came in 2020 when, “just for fun,” Alequin said, she took an online DNA test. It showed a 22 percent match with a man who eventually turned out to be her uncle. A further search provided no additional answers, but in 2024, she and her daughter started again, and eventually investigators agreed to reopen the case.
Albino ended up providing a DNA sample, along with his sister, who is Alida’s mother, and the missing boy case was solved.
You should also know that he came out to the West Coast and spent three weeks with his brother Roger in July before Roger died in August.
One final note. His niece says Albino was always in the hearts of his family, and his photo hung at relatives’ houses. Sadly, his mother died in 2005 but never gave up hope that her son was alive.
And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re going to call it a wrap for the Tuesday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief.
*(Don’t forget the News Brief Motto): We’re portable, affordable, and always on-demand.
And finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we wrap everything up with a very notable quote, and this one comes to us from John Glenn, who said: “The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.”
John Glenn was the third American in space and the first American to orbit the Earth, circling it three times in 1962.
One more thing: You should know that today is National Punctuation Day—a day set aside to celebrate commas, semicolons, question marks, and all the rest. Nothing makes a lick of sense without punctuation.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
The Epoch Times News Brief program was written today by Sharon Reardon.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased daily synopsis of many of the news stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your Tuesday, and we’ll see you right back here next time for another edition of The Epoch Times News Brief. For now, let’s all continue to watch out for one another, and have an absolutely superb day today. Bye for now.
