Aileen Cannon Rejects Trump’s Bid to Drop Several Charges

The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former President Trump in Florida has rejected a motion to dismiss multiple charges in the indictment.

Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is presiding over the case in which Special Prosecutor Jack Smith accuses the former president of illegally retaining classified documents, hoarding them at his Mar-a-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. Smith also charged Trump, the presumptive Republican candidate in the November presidential election, and his allies with obstructing attempts by federal officials to retrieve the highly sensitive documents.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The former president’s defense team had aimed to eliminate more than six of the 41 counts, filing a motion to have Cannon dismiss those related to obstruction and making false statements, according to court documents.

On Monday, Cannon issued an order in response to the defense’s request, saying that “the identified deficiencies, even if generating some arguable confusion, are either permitted by law, raise evidentiary challenges not appropriate for disposition at this juncture, and/or do not require dismissal even if technically deficient, so long as the jury is instructed appropriately and presented with adequate verdict forms as to each Defendants’ alleged conduct.”

Newsweek reached out via email on Monday night to Trump’s representatives for comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated as further information becomes available.