(The Center Square) – A federal judge on Thursday shot down one of former President Donald Trump’s two motions to dismiss charges that he mishandled classified documents.
Judge Aileen Cannon rejected Trump’s motion to dismiss the charges based on unconstitutional vagueness.
Trump, 77, the GOP nominee to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden, has pleaded not guilty to 40 felony counts that allege he kept sensitive military documents, shared them with people who didn’t have security clearance, and tried to get around the government’s attempts to get them back.
Cannon said the motion to dismiss for unconstitutional vagueness was premature. She said in an order Thursday afternoon that the motion raises arguments “warranting serious consideration” but wrote, “the Court elects to deny the Motion without prejudice.”
That means Trump could bring the matter back “to be raised as appropriate in connection with jury-instruction briefing and/or other appropriate motions,” Cannon wrote.
Trump’s motion had asked the judge to dismiss 32 of the 40 counts Trump faces for being “unconstitutionally vague.”
The judge didn’t rule on Trump’s motion to dismiss based on the Presidential Records Act.
Trump appeared in the courtroom Thursday.
“Big crowds in Fort Pierce, Florida, for the Biden induced Witch Hunt against his political opponent, ME!,” the former president wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. “Thank you, a great honor to have you there. Such a thing has never happened in our Country before – Strictly Third World. BUT, WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump appointed Cannon to the bench.
He has repeatedly said the criminal and civil cases he faces are part of an effort to thwart his return to the White House.
