Judge Declines Request to Recuse From Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect’s Case

Ryan Wesley Routh speaks during an interview at a rally in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 27, 2022. AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images

A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump said on Oct. 29 she will not recuse herself from the criminal case of a man who allegedly tried killing the ex-president.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said that the fact she was appointed by Trump is not disqualifying.

Ryan Wesley Routh, the man who allegedly tried to kill Trump at a golf course in Florida, recently argued through lawyers that Cannon’s impartiality could be questioned based on Trump appointing her, making statements about her, and being involved in a separate criminal case that was dismissed by the judge.

“Taken together, these unprecedented facts and circumstances might create an appearance of partiality in the mind of the public. Accordingly, the Constitution and the federal recusal statute require Your Honor to recuse herself from this case,” lawyers for Routh said.

Federal law states that a federal judge shall disqualify him or himself “in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned” or when certain situations arise, such as where a judge “has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding.”

Cannon said she does not have a relationship with Trump, having only spoken to him through counsel in connection with his required presence at a court proceeding. She wrote that Routh had failed to show that she should recuse because Trump made statements about her, saying she cannot control what others say about her. She also said Routh was wrong about her not being able to be impartial due to speculation that she could be promoted if Trump wins the upcoming election.

Routh also alleged that some of the public might think Cannon was not randomly assigned his case. Judicial assignments, according to the federal court system, are made randomly.

“This case, like the prior cited cases involving former President Trump, were randomly assigned to me through the Clerk’s random case assignment system. Period,” Cannon said. “I will not be guided by highly inaccurate, uninformed, or speculative opinions to the contrary.”

The judge later said that her going to high school with one of the prosecutors assigned to the case, and attending the prosecutor’s wedding when both he and she worked as assistant U.S. attorneys, did not warrant recusal.

“I maintain no ongoing personal relationship with the prosecutor, nor have I communicated with him in years. In short, my personal friendship years ago with the prosecutor has no bearing or influence whatsoever on my impartial handling of this case or any other case in which he may appear as counsel of record,” Cannon said.

Prosecutors had opposed Routh’s request, saying Routh did not present facts showing Cannon should recuse.

Routh, who is accused of bearing an armed weapon at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach and lying in wait for the former president before being spotted by the U.S. Secret Service, has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

A trial has been scheduled to start on Nov. 18.