Tina Cooper and Ronnie Oxendine pleaded guilty to gun trafficking in connection with providing a Chinese SKS rifle to accused would-be assassin Ryan Routh, and prosecutors say they tried to hide their involvement.
At a Glance
- Law enforcement confirmed Cooper and Oxendine broke federal gun‑trafficking laws to supply an SKS rifle later linked to an attempted assassination.
- Cooper facilitated the $350 firearm sale, collecting a $100 fee.
- After arrest, Cooper admitted she lied to FBI agents and asked Oxendine to delete incriminating communications.
- The plot followed just weeks after Trump was shot at a Pennsylvania rally, raising alarms over coordinated threats.
- Cooper could face up to 15 years in prison; Oxendine up to 10; Routh faces trial in September.
A Scheme to Arm an Assassin
In a troubling case of extremist violence, federal filings reveal how two individuals became part of an assassination plot targeting former President Trump. Court documents show that Tina Cooper and Ronnie Oxendine illegally transferred a Chinese SKS rifle to Ryan Routh, who, as a convicted felon, could not legally buy a firearm.
Cooper orchestrated the exchange, securing the rifle for $350 and pocketing a $100 cut. Prosecutors outline Routh’s meticulous planning, including inquiries about removing the rifle’s serial number and intentions to secure a sniper-style weapon—signs of a sophisticated conspiracy. Justice Department statements confirm, and court filings further detail Routh’s discussions of serial-number removal and sniper weapons, signaling his intent.
A Cover-Up Born of Fear
The conspiracy unraveled after Routh was arrested in September 2024 near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach while carrying the loaded SKS rifle. Cooper later told investigators she lied to FBI agents and deleted digital messages “out of fear of criminal consequences for her involvement in the attempted assassination.”
She also instructed Oxendine to deny any knowledge of the plot. Both gave conflicting accounts to law enforcement before admitting guilt on gun-trafficking counts. Cooper now faces a possible 15‑year sentence, while Oxendine may get up to 10 years. Numerous court records and DOJ releases underscore the seriousness of their cover‑up efforts.
Watch a report: Alleged Rifle Plot Targeting Trump.
A Pattern of Threats the Media Ignores
This assassination attempt surfaces just weeks after Trump survived a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that wounded the former president and killed an attendee. Officials investigating that attack noted it stemmed from concerns about “Trump’s potential impact on U.S. foreign policy,” echoing themes mentioned in Routh’s court documents. The close succession of two deadly plots—one nearly successful—reveals an alarming escalation in extremist violence.
Yet media coverage has largely focused on Trump’s Pennsylvania shooting and firms tracking threats say discussion has been fleeting. The lack of sustained attention to these assassination-centered conspiracies during a volatile political period is deeply troubling and raises urgent questions about national security and public awareness.
