Judge denies motion to dismiss charges against Trump in documents case

A federal judge has denied a motion by former President Donald Trump to dismiss the charges in one of the criminal indictments he's facing. Trump is accused of withholding and concealing classified and top-secret documents that he took to Florida from the White House and then lying about it to investigators.

At a hearing Thursday in Fort Pierce, Fla., U.S District Judge Aileen Cannon heard two motions for dismissal and quickly dispensed with one of them.

Trump was challenging a statute, part of the Espionage Act, that he is charged with violating, arguing that the wording of the statute is unconstitutionally vague. In court Thursday, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said there are questions about what it means to have "unauthorized possession." As president, Bove says, Trump could have given himself authorization to take these documents to his Mar-a-Lago residence and club.

In their arguments before the court, prosecutors told Judge Cannon the meaning of the statute is clear. They say the former president lost his authorization to view classified material when he left the White House.

Bove also said it's not clear what the statute means when it talks about documents "relating to the national defense." Prosecutors again maintained it is clear and that it includes anything that's labeled classified or top secret.

Trump's lawyers also told the judge they believe the prosecution of their client is arbitrary and politically motivated. Bove cited other cases where President Biden, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were found to have taken classified documents. Prosecutors say in those cases, the documents were quickly returned and there was no effort to obstruct or hide them from