Looks like even the courts aren’t safe from political intrigue in the lead-up to Election Day.
At a glance:
- Ryan Routh, charged with attempting to assassinate former President Trump, has requested Judge Aileen Cannon recuse herself from the case.
- Routh’s attorneys argue that Cannon, a Trump appointee, may appear biased since Trump has praised her rulings in his own legal matters.
- Cannon is currently overseeing both Routh’s case and Trump’s classified documents case, raising concerns of impartiality.
Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course, is asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to recuse herself from the case. Routh’s attorneys claim that Cannon’s appointment by Trump and the former president’s public praise for her could give the appearance of bias.
In their motion, Routh’s legal team pointed to Trump’s repeated praise of Judge Cannon for her rulings in his classified documents case, noting that Trump, as both the alleged victim and the current Republican nominee for president, has a significant stake in the outcome of Routh’s case. If Trump were to be re-elected, he would even have the power to elevate Cannon to a higher court.
Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, previously dismissed charges against Trump in his classified documents case, a decision that Special Counsel Jack Smith is currently appealing. While Trump has often attacked other judges presiding over his various legal battles, he has lauded Cannon for her rulings.
Routh, who is accused of attempting to assassinate Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course last month, faces five criminal counts, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. If convicted, Routh could face life in prison. His attorneys argue that federal law requires Cannon to step aside to avoid any appearance of partiality in the high-profile case.
Prosecutors have yet to take a position on Routh’s recusal request. The case remains a flashpoint as the political and legal worlds collide in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.