The federal judge presiding over the criminal case of a man accused of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump has refused to recuse himself, saying a defense request that she do so was unfounded.

WASHINGTON — The presiding federal judge a man’s criminal record accused of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump, refused to recuse herself on Tuesday, saying a defense claim that she did so was without merit.

Ryan Wesley Routh’s lawyers had urged him US District Judge Aileen Cannon to withdraw, saying her handling of Trump’s classified documents prosecution created at least the appearance of bias in favor of the former president and current Republican nominee. They cited the fact that she was appointed to the bench by Trump and was repeatedly praised by him for her decisions on the documents, including her July dismissal of the charge — a decision that is now being challenged by special counsel Jack Smith.

Cannon rejected the impeachment motion, writing Tuesday that she “has no control over what private citizens, members of the media or public officials or candidates choose to say about me or my judicial decisions” and is not concerned about the political consequences of her rulings . .

“I have never spoken or met with former President Trump except in connection with his required attendance at a formal legal proceeding, through counsel. “I have no ‘relationship to the alleged victim’ in any reasonable sense of the term,” Cannon wrote. “I honor my oath to administer justice faithfully and impartially, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of this country.”

She also contested defense claims that her recusal would remove any public perception that the attempted-assassination case was assigned to her in a non-random manner.

“This case, like the previously cited cases involving former President Trump, was randomly assigned to me through the clerk’s random case assignment system. Period,” Cannon wrote. “I will not be guided by grossly inaccurate, uninformed or speculative opinions to the contrary.”

Authorities say Routh stalked Trump for 12 hours on his golf course in Florida in September and he wrote about his desire to kill him. He was charged with attempted murder.

The potential shooting was foiled when a member of Trump’s Secret Service saw a man’s face partially obscured and a shotgun barrel protruding through the golf course’s fence line in front of where Trump was playing. The officer fired at Routh, who sped off and was stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county.