U.S. District Choose Aileen Cannon on Tuesday refused to recuse herself from overseeing the case of the suspect accused of trying to assassinate former President Trump at his golf course.
Ryan Routh, the suspect, cited how Trump has praised Cannon for dismissing his categorized paperwork indictment, saying it created an look of bias. Federal prosecutors opposed Routh’s recusal try.
“As Defendant acknowledges, I have no control over what private citizens, members of the media, or public officials or candidates elect to say about me or my judicial rulings,” Cannon wrote in her resolution.
“Nor am I concerned about the political consequences of my rulings or how those rulings might be viewed by ‘some in the media,’” she added.
Routh faces 5 federal prices, together with trying to assassinate a serious presidential candidate, for allegedly staking out the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Seaside, Fla., golf course final month with a rifle whereas the previous president was on the course. Routh, who faces as much as life in jail, pleaded not responsible.
Cannon was randomly assigned to supervise each Routh’s case and Trump’s indictment accusing him of mishandling categorized paperwork after leaving workplace and obstructing the federal government’s efforts to retrieve them.
In July, Cannon tossed Trump’s prices by discovering the particular counsel main the prosecution was unconstitutionally appointed, inflicting the previous president to heap public reward upon the decide. ABC Information has additionally reported that Cannon is amongst Trump’s record of potential lawyer common candidates if elected to a second White Home time period.
Past the decide’s dealing with of Trump’s prosecution, Routh’s movement additionally cited how Cannon went to highschool with one of many prosecutors assigned to his case and attended his wedding ceremony.
Cannon confirmed she did attend the marriage 9 years in the past however insisted it introduced no grounds for recusal.
“I maintain no ongoing personal relationship with the prosecutor, nor have I communicated with him in years,” she wrote. “In short, my personal friendship years ago with the prosecutor has no bearing or influence whatsoever on my impartial handling of this case or any other case in which he may appear as counsel of record.”
Up to date at 1:15 p.m.