U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon firmly rejected attempts by Republicans to intervene in the case involving former President Donald Trump‘s handling of classified documents.
Cannon shut down a move by 24 Republican attorneys general from different states, who were trying to prevent Special Counsel Jack Smith from obtaining a gag order against Trump.
In a court document on Monday, Cannon stated, “PAPERLESS ORDER denying Motion for Leave to File Brief as Amicus Curiae in Opposition to Special Counsel’s Motion. Signed by Judge Aileen M. Cannon on 6/17/2024.”
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On Sunday, a coalition of 24 Republican attorneys general, including names like Florida’s Ashley Moody and Iowa’s Brenna Bird, filed a motion to halt Smith’s request for the gag order.
The attorneys general argued in their motion, “Free and fair elections rely on candidates freely discussing important issues. Silencing a candidate not only affects the candidate but also deprives voters of crucial information and impacts the states responsible for election management.”
This month, Cannon set a deadline for Trump’s legal team to respond to Smith’s request to modify Trump’s bond conditions by mid-June. Smith had indicted Trump for his alleged mishandling of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago residence post presidency.
Smith emphasized the need for a gag order to shield law enforcement from potential harm due to Trump’s public statements, especially after Trump’s claims about the FBI using deadly force in a raid at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
After Smith’s attempts, Cannon dismissed a motion to change Trump’s bond conditions. Later, Smith renewed his push for a gag order, awaiting Cannon’s decision while Trump’s legal team responded by raising concerns about Trump’s freedom of speech.