On Thursday, October 17, 2024, CNN reported that Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, has requested that Judge Aileen Cannon recuse herself from overseeing his case. This request comes after Routh was charged with multiple counts, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate.
Routh’s defense attorneys filed the motion, citing concerns about potential bias due to Judge Cannon’s previous rulings in cases involving Trump. Specifically, they noted that Cannon had previously presided over a classified documents case involving Trump, which she ultimately dismissed. They argued that if Trump were to win the upcoming presidential election, he could nominate Cannon for a higher court position, creating a conflict of interest.
The defense highlighted that Trump has publicly praised Cannon after her dismissal of the classified documents case, which raises questions about her impartiality. They contended that as the alleged victim in this situation, Trump has a vested interest in the outcome of Routh’s trial.
The incident leading to Routh’s arrest occurred on September 15, when he was found behind a chain-linked fence at Trump’s golf course in Florida, armed with a rifle and allegedly waiting for an opportunity to shoot Trump. The former president was golfing at the time and was quickly escorted to safety after a Secret Service agent spotted Routh and fired shots at him.
Following his arrest, Routh was indicted on five charges and has pleaded not guilty to all allegations. The trial is set to take place at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, where Cannon has previously ruled on matters pertaining to Trump’s legal challenges.
Routh’s defense team argued that the circumstances surrounding Cannon’s assignment to the case and her previous interactions with Trump could lead the public to perceive her as biased, which they believe warrants her recusal. They referenced the federal recusal statute and the Constitution, asserting that these unprecedented circumstances could create an appearance of partiality.
Source: CNN
