Judge Denies One of Trump's Attempts to Dismiss Classified Documents Charges
Summary from the AllSides News Team
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon rejected a motion by former President Donald Trump's legal team on Thursday to dismiss some of the classified documents charges against him.
The Details: Trump's lawyers had argued that special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump on charges of willfully retaining classified information was "unconstitutionally vague."
Key Quotes: “Although the Motion raises various arguments warranting serious consideration, the Court ultimately determines, following lengthy oral argument, that resolution of the overall question presented depends too greatly on contested instructional questions about still-fluctuating definitions of statutory terms/phrases as charged, along with at least some disputed factual issues as raised in the Motion," Cannon wrote in her decision.
For Context: Trump's team may seek another dismissal on the same grounds at a later date. Cannon reportedly expressed skepticism toward another bid to dismiss the case under the Presidential Records Act, but didn't rule on it. Trump's team argues that the act gave him the right to declare some classified documents his personal property when he left office.
How the Media Covered It: Focusing on quotes from Cannon, The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) and other outlets on the left often framed Trump's attempts to dismiss the case as baseless. Right-rated outlets didn't; most focused on Trump's arguments. Some also focused more on how the district attorney in Trump's New York hush money case agreed on Thursday to delay that trial by 30 days.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Judge Cannon rejects Trump’s attack on the Espionage Act
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon on Thursday shot down one of Donald Trump’s bids to toss out the charges against him for allegedly mishandling classified documents, rejecting his claims that the Espionage Act was unfairly vague when used against a former president.
In a brief written order, Cannon said some of Trump’s arguments warrant “serious consideration,” but added it was too early to dismiss charges based on disagreements over the definition of some terms used in the Espionage Act. She did say Trump could raise the issue later...
From the Center
Judge denies Trump’s motion to dismiss classified docs case
A federal judge Thursday denied one of Donald Trump’s motions to throw out charges in his classified documents prosecution.
Trump’s attorneys asserted the former president’s actions were carried out within the scope of his presidential duties. Prior to the ruling, federal Judge Aileen Cannon pressed the jury on why she should drop the case and not have it go to a jury trial.
NewsNation confirmed Trump was in attendance at the hearing in a Florida federal courtroom. No phones or laptops were allowed inside, but the Associated Press reports Trump sat at the...
From the Right
Federal judge rejects Trump’s bid to toss out classified docs case for now: ‘An extraordinary step’
A federal judge in South Florida partially spurned former President Donald Trump’s bid Thursday to toss out the criminal charges against him for his hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Trump-appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon concluded that the 45th president’s team wanted her to decide “prematurely” on their claim that special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment charging Trump, 77, with wilfull retention of national defense information was unconstitutionally vague.
“The Motion raises various arguments warranting serious consideration,” she wrote in a two-page decision. “Resolution of the overall question presented depends too greatly...
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