MATT GAETZ WASHINGTON OFFICE:

2021 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

1ST DISTRICT, FLORIDA
WASHINGTON, DC 20515

ARMED SERVICES Congress of the United States (202) 225-4136

COMMITTEE
House of Representatives
DISTRICT OFFICE:
805 E James Lee Blvd
COMMITTEE ON THE Crestview, FL 32539
JUDICIARY Washington, DC 20515 (850) 479-1183

https://gaetz.house.gov

June 27, 2024

The Honorable Cecilia Altonga

Chief Judge
United States District Court
Southern District of Florida
Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse
400 North Miami Avenue
Room 13-3
Miami, FL 33128

Chief Judge Altonaga:

The New York Times recently reported that multiple individuals report that potentially unethical pressure was
brought to bear upon Judge Aileen Cannon in your district (“Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected
Suggestions to Step Aside,” June 20, 2024). Specifically, multiple anonymous sources note that two judges have
publicized their attempts to convince Judge Cannon to step aside in the Trump classified-documents case. The
timing (apparently well into the litigation) and the fact that the New York Times has described this effort as
“extraordinary” do warrant at least a reach out from Congress.

I am well aware of the dynamics of a collegial court, and the facts, as reported by the media, may be wrong.
There is nothing untoward in a senior colleague explaining to a more junior colleague about the pitfalls of an
assigned case and providing options to her. But the article suggests much more than that.

Please provide responses to the following questions to my office by July 5, 2024:

(1) Did you personally have a conversation with Judge Cannon about the Trump-documents case and, if
so, on what date(s)?; and
(2) Did you attempt to convince her to leave the case, through reassignment or another means, and, if so,
what means and on what date(s)?; and
(3) Do you have reason to believe that the conversation(s) with Judge Cannon is/are protected by any
canons of court conduct or judicial ethics, such that leaks to the New York Times may constitute a
violation of those rules and, if so, what rules?”; and
(4) Is there any pending investigation into those leaks?; and
(5) What affirmative steps has your court taken to avoid a repeat of this situation?

Sincerely,

Matt Gaetz
Member of Congress

CC: Judicial Conference of the United States