Judge rejects assassin's request for recusal in Trump case
- Judge Aileen Cannon rejected a request from defendant Ryan Routh for her recusal in his case involving charges of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump.
- Routh argued that Cannon's ties to Trump and her previous rulings in cases involving him created an appearance of bias.
- Cannon clarified that she was assigned to Routh's case randomly and emphasized her impartiality in the matter.
In October 2024, Ryan Routh was charged with multiple offenses relating to his alleged attempt to assassinate Donald Trump while the former president was at a golf course in Florida. Routh reportedly had a loaded gun and was found staking out the location, which led to his arrest by the Secret Service. Following the incident, Routh requested that Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, recuse herself from his case, citing her connection to the former president as a potential bias. Judge Cannon responded to Routh's request by stating that the reasons provided did not merit her recusal and emphasized her ability to remain impartial. She noted that she had ruled favorably for Trump in previous cases, but those instances did not influence her current role in Routh's proceedings. Cannon dismissed Routh's arguments as speculative, reiterating her commitment to impartiality in her judicial role. Furthermore, she clarified that she had not communicated with Trump outside of his courtroom appearances, reinforcing her position that personal relationships should not impact her judicial decisions. Cannon assured Routh that his case was assigned to her randomly through the court's established process, dismissing any notion of favoritism. This statement from Cannon aims to quell concerns regarding her impartiality as she presides over a high-profile case involving a former president. Routh is facing serious charges that could lead to life in prison if convicted.