No, DeSantis didn't refuse to hand Ryan Routh over to FBI | Fact check

The claim: Ron DeSantis is refusing to hand Ryan Routh over to federal authorities

A Sept. 16 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) claims Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is refusing to cooperate with federal authorities on an investigation into the Sept. 15 assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.

"Reports are that Desantis isn’t allowing Trumps (sic) would be assassin to be handed over to the feds," reads text within the post, which was originally shared on X, formerly Twitter. "It makes sense. Why would the three letter agencies be in charge of the investigation when they probably orchestrated it?"

The post garnered more than 6,000 likes in a day. Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook, Threads and X.

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Our rating: False

The suspect is being held by the FBI. DeSantis launched a separate statewide investigation into the apparent assassination attempt but didn't say anything about keeping the suspect in his state's custody.

Shooting suspect being held by FBI, not Florida authorities

The FBI said on Sept. 15 that it is investigating an apparent assassination attempt on Trump after a Secret Service agent spotted a suspected gunman approximately 300-500 yards away from Trump at his International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Martin County officials stopped the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Routh, as he drove away from the scene on Interstate 95 and handcuffed him until federal authorities arrived, according to Treasure Coast News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

But Routh isn't being held in custody by Florida officials, and DeSantis didn't say anything about refusing to hand the suspect over to the FBI.

Treasure Coast News reported the Secret Service and FBI arrived on the scene where Routh was being held by Martin County officials, and Routh was turned over to the FBI. Routh appeared in federal court on Sept. 16 after being held on charges of possession of a firearm while a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

More charges will likely follow, but the initial counts will allow federal authorities to keep Routh in custody as the investigation continues, according to Treasure Coast News.

The Department of Justice said in a Sept. 16 press release that Routh's detention hearing will be held the following Monday.

Fact check: Supposed Trump post that his would-be assassins are '0-2' is fabricated

DeSantis said on X that state investigators will launch their own probe into the apparent assassination attempt because "it is not in the best interests of our state and nation to have the same federal agencies seeking to prosecute Trump leading this investigation."

"The suspect is believed to have violated state laws across multiple judicial circuits," DeSantis said in a Sept. 17 post. "The State of Florida has jurisdiction over the most serious, readily provable offense: attempted murder."

However, the Florida governor didn't say anything about keeping Routh in custody in Florida.

USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

• USA TODAY, Sept. 17, Florida Gov. DeSantis launches separate probe of Trump assassination attempt

• Treasure Coast News, Sept. 16, Man linked to attempted assassination of Donald Trump stopped in Martin County

• Treasure Coast News, Sept. 16, Police analyzing movements, DNA of Trump assassination attempt suspect: Live updates

• Department of Justice, Sept. 16, Suspect at Trump International Golf Course Charged with Firearms Offenses

• Ron DeSantis, Sept. 15, X post

• Ron DeSantis, Sept. 17, X post

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeSantis not holding Trump assassination attempt suspect | Fact check