Trump-appointed judge won’t recuse himself in Florida attempted murder case

U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon has denied a motion to recuse herself in the case against a Florida man accused of trying to kill former President Donald Trump. "I have never spoken to or met with former President Trump except in connection with his required presence at an official legal proceeding through counsel,” Cannon wrote in the seven-page ruling filed Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida. Photo courtesy of Florida State/UPI

1 of 2 | U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon has denied a motion to recuse herself in the case against a Florida man accused of trying to kill former President Donald Trump. “I have never spoken to or met with former President Trump other than in connection with his required attendance at official legal proceedings through counsel,” Cannon wrote in the seven-page ruling filed Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida . Photo courtesy of the State of Florida. /UPI

October 29 (UPI) — U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon has denied a motion to recuse herself in the case against a Florida man accused of attempting to assassinate a former U.S. president. Donald Trump in the summer in one of two registered attempts.

“I have never spoken to or met with former President Trump except in connection with his required attendance at official legal proceedings through counsel,” the Trump-appointed judge wrote in a decision on seven pages Filed Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida.

In September, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, a federal prosecutors filed charges 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Rout with an attempt to kill Trump. He pleaded not guilty.

Cannon, 43, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, has ruled in favor of the convicted political leader in past cases.

Rauth’s lawyers demanded that Cannon recuse herself, given her past court rulings in support of Trump. They also argued that Cannon’s alleged past relationship with one of the prosecutors presented a potential conflict.

During the summer Cannon declined The federal government filed a case against Trump over the classified documents, alleging that the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel allegedly violated what it ruled was the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.

“I will not be guided by grossly inaccurate, uninformed or speculative opinions to the contrary,” Cannon wrote in Tuesday’s filing.

Regarding Trump’s past comments about Cannon: “I have no control over what private citizens, members of the media, public officials or candidates choose to say about me or my judicial decisions.” she wrote.

The former president and current Republican candidate owns the golf club where authorities say a second potential assassination attempt took place. Trump was playing golf when a Secret Service agent said he noticed a gun nearby and intervened.

Federal prosecutors allege that Routh “violently assaulted, resisted, obstructed, intimidated and interfered” with a Secret Service agent who discovered Routh hiding among trees overlooking the former president’s private Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

According to prosecutors, the only reason Routh was in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15 and in August was to kill Trump.

A number of other charges have been brought against Raut.