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Prince Harry accepts Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPYs despite Tillman’s mother’s criticism to honor him
Prince Harry was given the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYs on Thursday night, despite criticism from the mother of the slain veteran over the decision to select the royal as the recipient.
The Duke of Sussex kicked off his acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, by expressing his gratitude to the Pat Tillman Foundation and acknowledging Tillman’s family, including Mary Tillman specifically.
“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect,” Harry said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
Tillman was a former NFL player who gave up his football career to enlist in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 attacks. He later died in friendly fire incident in Afghanistan.
The award was given to the 39-year-old son of King Charles for his work with the Invictus Games – an annual international sporting event he founded for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. Harry, who was at the ceremony with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said the award goes to all of them instead of him.
“I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” he said. “This award belongs to them, not to me.”
“The spirit of the Invictus Games transcends race, time and borders,” he added. “It is born from unity and exudes purpose. This year we’re celebrating ten years of witnessing life-changing impact and healing through sport.”
Last month, ESPN announced Harry would be the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs, which was hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams. Tillman’s mother disagreed with the decision to pick Harry and told the Daily Mail that she was “shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.”
“There are recipients that are far more fitting,” she said. “There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”
‘These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has,” she told the British outlet. “I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.” In response, ESPN said in a statement that the company made the choice “with the support of the Tillman Foundation.”
“We understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award,” ESPN said. “The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”
The award under Tillman’s name honors a person “with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy” of Tillman, ESPN said. Other past winners include the Buffalo Bills’ training staff, Army veteran Gretchen Evans and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.
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What’s known about Ryan Wesley Routh, suspect in possible Trump assassination attempt
A picture is emerging of the suspect who officials say pointed a high-powered rifle at former president Donald Trump on a Florida golf course Sunday afternoon.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was armed with an AK-47-style rifle and was 300-500 yards away from Trump when members of the former president’s Secret Service detail spotted him, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Routh was a few holes ahead of where the president was golfing at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, officials said.
Members of the Secret Service detail opened fire at Routh, according to law enforcement officials. It’s not clear if Routh fired any shots. Bradshaw said a witness saw a man jumping out of the bushes and fleeing in a black Nissan. The car was pulled over and the driver detained and identified as the suspect. Law enforcement found the rifle, a scope, two backpacks with ceramic tile and a GoPro camera in the bushes at the scene.
The FBI and U.S. Secret Service are investigating the incident, which the FBI said “appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.”
As the investigation continues, here’s what we know about Routh:
A decades-long criminal history
Routh’s most recent address is listed in Hawaii, but he spent most of his life in North Carolina, according to property records. Routh owned Camp Box Honolulu, a shed-building company, according to his LinkedIn profile. The account also says that he studied at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and graduated in 1998.
Records show his problems with the law go back to the 1990s and include less serious charges, like writing bad checks. But in 2002, he was charged with a felony — possession of a weapon of mass destruction — according to North Carolina Department of Corrections records.
Between 2002 and 2010, Routh was also charged with a number of misdemeanors, including a hit-and-run accident, resisting arrest and a concealed weapons violation, records show.
Suspect criticized Trump online
Routh voted Democratic in the 2024 primary election in North Carolina, and he voted in person, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. He appears to be registered as an unaffiliated voter.
His X account, which has now been suspended, included a number of posts about Trump.
“@realDonaldTrump While you were my choice in 2106, I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointment and it seems you are getting worse and devolving,” he wrote in a June 2020 post. “I will be glad when you gone.”
He also referenced the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump in multiple posts, suggesting that President Biden and Vice President Harris should visit the injured and attend the funeral of the Pennsylvania rally-goer who was killed.
A Facebook account under Routh’s name was no longer online on Sunday evening.
Ukraine supporter
Routh was passionate about fighting for Ukraine, even traveling overseas to fight in the country’s war against Russia in 2022.
“I am coming to Ukraine from Hawaii to fight for your kids and families and democracy.. I will come and die for you,” he wrote on X.
In one post on LinkedIn, he shared a photo of himself in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
A CBS News review of Routh’s social media shows his pro-Ukraine views seeped into his public statements as well. He urged people, even those who didn’t have military skills, to take up arms for Ukraine. He was interviewed by several news organizations, including The New York Times and Semafor in 2023, and Newsweek Romania in 2022. He was quoted about his efforts to recruit volunteer fighters to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, though it wasn’t clear whether he had succeeded.
“This is about good versus evil,” he told Newsweek Romania.
contributed to this report.
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