Trump assassination suspect demands Judge Cannon recuse from case
Ryan Routh, the man charged with attempting to assassinate former President Trump at his Florida golf course last month, asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday to recuse herself from the case because Trump appointed her and has praised her handling of his classified documents indictment.
Routh’s attorneys said the “unprecedented circumstances” could create an appearance of partiality in the public’s view.
“Mr. Trump is the current Republican candidate for President in next month’s election. On the campaign trail, he has repeatedly praised Your Honor for her rulings in his case,” Routh’s attorneys wrote in the motion.
“As the alleged victim here, he has a significant stake in the outcome of this case too. Were he to become President in the future, he would have authority to nominate Your Honor to a federal judgeship on a higher court were a vacancy to arise,” they continued.
By random selection, Cannon oversees the trial proceedings for both Routh’s criminal prosecution and special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal prosecution of Trump for unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving office and obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them.
Cannon dismissed Trump’s charges in July by ruling that Smith was improperly appointed. Smith is now appealing.
Unlike most of Trump’s other judges, whom he repeatedly attacks on social media and elsewhere, he has heaped praise on Cannon, whom the former president nominated to the bench in 2020.
Routh’s attorneys, noting that Trump is the alleged victim in their client’s case, insisted federal law requires Cannon to recuse.
“By repeatedly and publicly praising this Court by name for its rulings in his case, Mr. Trump has arguably bolstered the perception that the Court is partial in his favor,” Routh’s attorneys wrote.
The motion indicates that federal prosecutors are taking the request under advisement but have not yet taken a position.
Routh is accused of staking out the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach, Fla., golf course last month with a rifle until a Secret Service agent spotted him while the former president was on the course. It marked the second attempt on Trump’s life in recent months.
Routh faces five criminal counts, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and multiple firearm charges. A conviction could carry up to life in prison.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
-
Top stories - CBS News
Judge mostly denies Trump's demand for more evidence in 2020 election case
Former President Donald Trump sought to force prosecutors to search nine government entities for 14 categories of information in the 2020 election case.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Top stories - CBS News
Woman's suspected killer recognized as twin brother from another case
Police identified a Nashville woman's suspected killer because he was related to a suicide case they remembered from 2021.Yesterday -
Politics - NBC News
Judge in Trump's Jan. 6 case rejects 'strained' argument about his false 2020 election claims
WASHINGTON — A judge overseeing the federal election interference case against Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the former president's claim that he was actually concerned about foreign influence ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Top stories - ABC News
Trump asks judge in Jan. 6 case to delay release of additional immunity filing
Donald Trump's attorneys have asked the judge in his Jan. 6 case to further delay the release of an appendix containing more evidence amassed by the special counsel.11 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Top stories - NBC News
Judge upholds execution warrant in 'shaken baby' case
A judge in Texas denied a motion by lawyers for Robert Roberson to throw out the execution warrant against him. Roberson is scheduled to be executed Thursday and would be the first person put to ...2 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Arrested Las Vegas man denies involvement in Trump assassination attempt
The Las Vegas man arrested with a loaded gun at former President Trump’s Coachella, Calif., rally over the weekend said he is a supporter of the GOP presidential nominee. Vem Miller, 49, released a ...3 days ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Men shot during Trump assassination attempt accuse Secret Service of 'negligence'
Two men who were injured during the shooting at former President Trump's rally in Pennsylvania in July are speaking out, claiming the Secret Service is responsible for "negligence" and the security ...2 days ago - Donald Trump -
Top stories - CBS News
GPS data from suspect's car leads to body of girl missing for a year
Police had been searching for the 15-year-old — referred to only as "Lina" in media — since her mysterious disappearance last year.15 hours ago -
Top stories - NBC News
N.C. judge argues for release of man convicted in murder of Michael Jordan's father
The North Carolina judge who presided over the 1996 murder trial over the killing Michael Jordan’s father petitioned the state’s parole commission to release one of the men convicted in the case.10 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Father, 14-year-old son indicted on murder charges over Georgia High School shooting
Father and his 14-year-old son were indicted by a grand jury Thursday on murder charges over the September Georgia high school shooting where four people were killed. The Georgia grand jury ...42 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris jabs at Trump with help from Molly Shannon in Al Smith dinner video
Vice President Harris on Thursday swiped at former President Trump with jokes about his election denialism and his criticism of Detroit during a pre-recorded video address to the Al Smith charity ...53 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Bolton calls death of Hamas leader 'a good day for the whole world'
Former White House national security adviser John Bolton said Thursday was “a good day for the whole world” after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. “Well, it's a good day for the whole world ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Who could replace Yahya Sinwar as Hamas's leader?
Yahya Sinwar's death has raised many questions about the future of the war in Gaza, perhaps none more pressing than who will replace him as Hamas's leader. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Watch live: Jacky Rosen, Sam Brown go head-to-head in Nevada Senate debate
Incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) will face off with GOP challenger Sam Brown on Thursday night in the Nevada Senate debate. The forum will be the only chance for Rosen, a first-term senator, and ...1 hour ago