Trump lost his motion to dismiss in court today,

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

WEST PALM BEACH DIVISION

CASE NO. 23-80101-CR-CANNON

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

DONALD J. TRUMP,

WALTINE NAUTA, and

CARLOS DE OLIVEIRA,

Defendants.

/

ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE DEFENDANT TRUMP’S MOTION

TO DISMISS COUNTS 1–32 BASED ON UNCONSTITUTIONAL VAGUENESS

THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant Trump’s Motion to Dismiss

Counts 1 through 32 Based on Unconstitutional Vagueness (the “Motion”), filed on February 22,

2024 [ECF No. 325]. The Special Counsel filed a Response in Opposition [ECF No. 377], to

which Defendant Trump filed a Reply [ECF No. 398]. The Court heard argument on the Motion

on March 14, 2024 [ECF No. 401]. Upon careful review of the Motion, related filings, and the

arguments raised during the hearing, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

Defendant Trump seeks dismissal of Counts 1 through 32 of the Superseding Indictment

on the ground that the statutory phrases “unauthorized possession,” “relating to the national

defense,” and “entitled to receive” appearing in 18 U.S.C. § 793(e) are unconstitutionally vague

as applied under the facts presented, in violation of due process and the rule of lenity. Although

the Motion raises various arguments warranting serious consideration, the Court ultimately

determines, following lengthy oral argument, that resolution of the overall question presented

depends too greatly on contested instructional questions about still-fluctuating definitions of

CASE NO. 23-80101-CR-CANNON

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statutory terms/phrases as charged, along with at least some disputed factual issues as raised in the

Motion. For that reason, rather than prematurely decide now whether application of 18 U.S.C.

§ 793(e) in these circumstances yields unsalvageable vagueness despite the asserted judicial

glosses, the Court elects to deny the Motion without prejudice, to be raised as appropriate in

connection with jury-instruction briefing and/or other appropriate motions.

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Defendant Trump’s Motion

to Dismiss Counts 1 through 32 Based on Unconstitutional Vagueness [ECF No. 325] is DENIED

WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Fort Pierce, Florida, this 14th day of March

2024.

_________________________________

AILEEN M. CANNON

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE