Judge Aileen Cannon to preside over alleged Trump assassination attempt case in Florida
Ryan Routh is facing charges in connection with the case.
TroibNews 
A federal judge who previously presided over and dismissed the criminal classified documents case brought against Donald Trump is now set to supervise the investigation into the recent apparent assassination attempt on the former president.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, was randomly assigned to the attempted assassination case on Tuesday after a Miami grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Ryan Routh for his involvement in the incident that occurred on September 15 at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The indictment accuses Routh of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and assault on a federal officer. Additionally, he faces two charges he had previously: being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Prosecutors and police report that a Secret Service agent fired at Routh after noticing a rifle barrel extending over a fence surrounding the golf course, while Trump was located just a hole away. Authorities stated that Routh did not discharge a weapon and was apprehended by sheriff’s deputies shortly thereafter in a neighboring county.
The lead charge brought against Routh by the Justice Department is under a federal statute criminalizing attempts to kill a major-party presidential candidate. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Following a bond hearing on Monday, Routh was held in detention after it was revealed that he had expressed intentions to assassinate Trump and had offered $150,000 to anyone able to carry out the killing.
Cannon, whose chambers are located in Fort Pierce, Florida, received the case through a random draw involving about 10 federal judges who frequently handle cases from the Palm Beach area.
Cannon has played a significant role in Trump's legal challenges. She dismissed the classified documents case in July, asserting that the special counsel overseeing it had been improperly appointed by the Justice Department. This ruling is currently under appeal.
In 2022, Cannon made headlines by allowing Trump access to documents seized from his Mar-a-Lago residence, a decision that was later overturned by a federal appeals court.
During an unrelated press briefing on Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland hinted at the assassination charges following a court announcement from prosecutors about pursuing additional charges. “All of our top priority should be ensuring that accountability occurs in this case, and that those who run for office and their families are safe and protected,” Garland stated.
Garland also refrained from committing to federal cooperation with a parallel investigation led by Florida authorities. Trump claimed on Monday that the Justice Department had “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent attempt on his life and expressed a desire for Florida investigators to take charge if federal investigators could not operate “honestly and without bias.”
“Our job is to ensure full accountability here,” Garland emphasized during the Tuesday press conference. “We always seek to cooperate and to get assistance from state and local law enforcement to the extent consistent with and appropriate with the law and appropriate with respect to the investigations.”
The Trump campaign has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the new charges or Cannon’s assignment to the case.
The trial concerning the classified documents case was originally set to begin in May but was postponed indefinitely as Cannon continued to conduct hearings on various motions before eventually dismissing the case. Had the original schedule proceeded, the details of the investigation might have been public in the lead-up to the election, potentially keeping Trump occupied in court rather than on the campaign trail.
Cannon has faced scrutiny for her rulings and has been in the spotlight due to confrontations with prosecutors and decisions that many legal experts find perplexing.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, was randomly assigned to the attempted assassination case on Tuesday after a Miami grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Ryan Routh for his involvement in the incident that occurred on September 15 at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The indictment accuses Routh of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and assault on a federal officer. Additionally, he faces two charges he had previously: being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Prosecutors and police report that a Secret Service agent fired at Routh after noticing a rifle barrel extending over a fence surrounding the golf course, while Trump was located just a hole away. Authorities stated that Routh did not discharge a weapon and was apprehended by sheriff’s deputies shortly thereafter in a neighboring county.
The lead charge brought against Routh by the Justice Department is under a federal statute criminalizing attempts to kill a major-party presidential candidate. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Following a bond hearing on Monday, Routh was held in detention after it was revealed that he had expressed intentions to assassinate Trump and had offered $150,000 to anyone able to carry out the killing.
Cannon, whose chambers are located in Fort Pierce, Florida, received the case through a random draw involving about 10 federal judges who frequently handle cases from the Palm Beach area.
Cannon has played a significant role in Trump's legal challenges. She dismissed the classified documents case in July, asserting that the special counsel overseeing it had been improperly appointed by the Justice Department. This ruling is currently under appeal.
In 2022, Cannon made headlines by allowing Trump access to documents seized from his Mar-a-Lago residence, a decision that was later overturned by a federal appeals court.
During an unrelated press briefing on Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland hinted at the assassination charges following a court announcement from prosecutors about pursuing additional charges. “All of our top priority should be ensuring that accountability occurs in this case, and that those who run for office and their families are safe and protected,” Garland stated.
Garland also refrained from committing to federal cooperation with a parallel investigation led by Florida authorities. Trump claimed on Monday that the Justice Department had “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent attempt on his life and expressed a desire for Florida investigators to take charge if federal investigators could not operate “honestly and without bias.”
“Our job is to ensure full accountability here,” Garland emphasized during the Tuesday press conference. “We always seek to cooperate and to get assistance from state and local law enforcement to the extent consistent with and appropriate with the law and appropriate with respect to the investigations.”
The Trump campaign has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the new charges or Cannon’s assignment to the case.
The trial concerning the classified documents case was originally set to begin in May but was postponed indefinitely as Cannon continued to conduct hearings on various motions before eventually dismissing the case. Had the original schedule proceeded, the details of the investigation might have been public in the lead-up to the election, potentially keeping Trump occupied in court rather than on the campaign trail.
Cannon has faced scrutiny for her rulings and has been in the spotlight due to confrontations with prosecutors and decisions that many legal experts find perplexing.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
