In a moment of cosmic alignment for people who believe the Disney ride is accurate and that it is, in fact, a small world after all, would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh has drawn none other than Aileen Cannon as the judge for his case.
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Cannon, a Trump appointee, famously critiqued and later dismissed Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s Mar-a-Lago documents case against the former president. Trump, in return, has praised her skill as a judge. Both of these facts are now being used by Routh to try and get Cannon to recuse herself from his case.
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.
The demand seems far-fetched since Cannon was assigned randomly, and federal judges rarely step aside unless a clear conflict exists.
While Cannon has drawn criticism over her handling of the Mar-a-Lago documents case, recusal requests often fail without concrete evidence of bias, making it unlikely she will be removed from Routh’s case.
This appears more like a strategic legal move than a legitimate recusal effort.
“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 in the motion. Interestingly, it also notes that prosecutors have taken the request under advisement.
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Routh faces multiple charges, including the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and firearm-related offenses. The indictment also includes prior charges for illegal firearm possession and having a gun with an obliterated serial number.
Authorities say a Secret Service agent fired at Routh after spotting a rifle barrel through a fence near a golf course where Trump was playing. Although Routh did not return fire, sheriff’s deputies arrested him shortly after in a nearby county.
READ MORE: Ryan Wesley Routh Enters Not Guilty Plea to Charges for Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
Routh himself wrote a letter confirming his plot was an attempt to assassinate Trump.
“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you,” he wrote in the letter, which is now evidence in his upcoming trial. “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”