In a recent development, acting Judge Juan Merchan has once again dismissed former President Donald Trump's plea for the judge's recusal from a New York criminal case.
This marks the third time Trump's legal representatives have sought Merchan's withdrawal from the case, one of four indictments against the former president.
According to The Blaze, Trump's team has been pushing for Merchan's recusal on the grounds of a perceived conflict of interest. The alleged conflict stems from the career of Merchan's daughter, Loren Merchan, who is employed by a progressive political consulting firm. The firm's clientele includes political opponents of Trump, leading his attorneys to argue that Loren Merchan has a financial stake in the New York criminal case presided over by her father.
Judge Merchan, however, has remained steadfast in his position, stating in his latest decision that Trump's lawyers have brought "nothing new for this Court to consider." The defense's argument that Loren Merchan's connections to Vice President Kamala Harris, a potential rival of Trump in the upcoming election, necessitate Merchan's recusal was dismissed by the judge. He noted that the "alleged relationship" between the presidential candidate and "a member of this Courts family" is the same argument that was already presented in the previous two recusal motions.
Merchan further emphasized that there was "no need to repeat the legal analysis" conducted during the first motion. He wrote in his rejection, This Court now reiterates for the third time, that which should already be clear innuendo and mischaracterizations do not a conflict create. Recusal is therefore not necessary, much less required.
The judge also criticized the defense's repeated arguments, stating, Counsel has merely repeated arguments that have already been denied by this and higher courts. Defense Counsels reliance, and apparent citation to his own prior affirmation, rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims, is unavailing.
In the midst of these developments, the House Judiciary Committee has initiated an investigation into Loren Merchan, focusing on her father's potential conflict of interest in relation to her professional activities.
Trump, meanwhile, remains under Merchan's gag order, which restricts him from publicly discussing court staff or their family members, including Loren Merchan. Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration over the gag order, claiming it hinders his ability to respond to media queries during his presidential campaign. He wrote, Suppression and manipulation of the vote. Voter interference. This is the real Fascist stuff, the old Soviet Union! So much to say, and Im not allowed to say it. Must get U.S. Supreme Court involved. New York is trying to steal the Election!
In May, Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the New York case. Judge Merchan had previously agreed to delay sentencing until September, following the Supreme Court's decision on Trump's immunity claim in a separate federal case.
Login