A federal judge has rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out a criminal case that charges him with illegally holding on to classified documents after leaving the White House.
US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued the ruling after a day-long hearing in Florida during which the former president’s lawyers argued the Espionage Act is too vague to be used against him.
“It’s difficult to see how this gets you to dismissal of the indictment,” she told his lawyers at one point.
The judge also indicated she was unlikely to agree to a separate request by Mr Trump to dismiss the case on the grounds he had deemed the documents to be “personal” rather than government property.
As Mr Trump looked on in the courtroom, his legal team pressed Ms Cannon to throw out the case.
Donald Trump arrives for the hearing in Fort Pierce, Florida. Pic: Reuters
The Presidential Records Act gave him the authority to designate the records he took with him to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as personal property, his legal team argued.
However, prosecutors argued the records were clearly presidential, not personal, and included top-secret information and documents related to nuclear programmes and the military capabilities of the US and foreign countries.
Ms Cannon’s ruling on Thursday covered only the Espionage Act arguments.
A decision on the separate motion regarding the Presidential Records Act remains pending.
That issue could be addressed during the trial, the judge said. She is yet to announce when it will take place.
Prosecutors have pressed the judge to set a date for this summer, while Mr Trump’s lawyers are hoping to put it off until after the presidential election.
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After the hearing, Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he took note of the “big crowds” outside the courthouse, which included supporters with flags and signs who honked their car horns in solidarity with the ex-president. He again said the prosecution is a “witch hunt” inspired by President Joe Biden.
It is one of four criminal cases he faces as he tries to win back the White House.
The former president is also facing charges in relation to the riots at the US Capitol after the last presidential election, and over allegations he arranged payments to a porn actress.
The fourth case relates to accusations he criminally conspired to overturn his narrow defeat in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election.
I don’t think anything is going to happen to Trump. He’s too powerful and he has too many friends in high places.
The judge’s decision is based on the fact that Trump has not provided any evidence to support his claim that the documents were declassified. This is a significant hurdle for Trump to overcome, and it’s likely that the case will continue to move forward.
I’m not sure what to think about this. On the one hand, I think it’s important to hold people accountable for their actions, even if they’re powerful. On the other hand, I’m worried that this could be a political witch hunt.
This is a major development in the ongoing investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents. The judge’s decision is a clear indication that the case is moving forward and that Trump could face serious consequences if he is found to have mishandled classified information.
I’m not sure I believe that Trump actually mishandled classified documents. I think it’s more likely that this is just a political attack on him.
I’m not convinced that this is a major development. The judge’s decision is just one step in a long process, and it’s far from clear that Trump will actually be charged with a crime. I think we need to wait and see how things play out before we start drawing any conclusions.
This is a serious matter, and I think it’s important to avoid making light of it. Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents, which is a serious crime. We need to let the justice system play out and see what happens.
I can’t believe Trump is actually facing charges. This is like something out of a movie. I wonder if he’ll try to escape from prison by digging a tunnel with a spoon.
I think it’s important to remember that Trump is innocent until proven guilty. We need to let the justice system play out and see what happens before we start making judgments.
I think the judge’s decision is wrong. Trump has a right to keep his personal documents private, and the government should not be able to seize them without a warrant. This is a clear violation of Trump’s Fourth Amendment rights.
I think it’s important to be realistic about this case. It’s possible that Trump will be found guilty, but it’s also possible that he’ll be acquitted. We need to wait and see what happens.
Well, well, well. Look who’s in trouble now. Trump always thought he was above the law, but now he’s finally facing the consequences of his actions. I wonder how he likes being on the other side of the bars.
I’m hopeful that this case will help to restore faith in our justice system. It’s important to show that no one is above the law, not even the former president.
Oh no, poor Trump. He’s being persecuted by the deep state again. I’m sure he’ll be able to clear his name, just like he always does.
I hope that this case will send a message to other people who are thinking about mishandling classified documents. It’s important to remember that these documents are sensitive and they can put our national security at risk.