FEC records show that between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023, Donald Trump's Super PAC, SAVE AMERICA, made payments to the following law firms in these amounts:
BALLARD SPAHR LLP - $109,174.55
To recuse a federal district judge like Judge Cannon in USA v. Trump, a party must demonstrate that the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, or that the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party.
The party seeking recusal must follow the procedural requirements set forth in 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455. Section 144 requires a party to file a "timely and sufficient affidavit" alleging that the judge has a personal bias or prejudice against the party or in favor of an
adverse party. The affidavit must state the facts and reasons for the belief that bias or prejudice exists, and must be filed within a specified time period. Additionally, the affidavit must be accompanied by a certificate of good faith from counsel of record. Section 455,
Mar-a-Lago is in West Palm Beach division, between the Fort Lauderdale division and the Fort Pierce division, where Judge Cannon sits. The district court’s website shows 7 active judges have chambers in those 3 divisions, as do 3 judges on senior status who still hear cases.
“Ms. Noble wrote that certain factors increased the chances that the case would land before Judge Cannon. Donald Middlebrooks, draws 50 percent of his criminal cases from the Miami division, she wrote, decreasing his odds. (Judge Middlebrooks this year ordered Mr. Trump and his
Trump attempted to obstruct the investigation by suggesting his attorney lie, directing Waltine Nauta to move boxes of documents, and providing only some of the documents requested by the grand jury.
- Trump did not obtain a waiver to access classified information, which would have required a determination that access was consistent with national security and that appropriate steps were taken to protect the information.
- Nauta found several of Trump's boxes fallen and their contents spilled on the floor. - Among the spilled contents was a document marked "SECRET//REL."
- The document was marked as releasable only to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. - Nauta texted Trump Employee 2 about the