Donald Trump is again seeking to get the judge overseeing his April 15 New York criminal trial off the case, arguing the judge’s daughter’s work for a political consultancy with Democratic clients poses a conflict of interest.
Quick Read
- Recusal Request: Donald Trump’s legal team is seeking the recusal of Justice Juan Merchan from overseeing his upcoming New York criminal trial, citing a potential conflict of interest due to the judge’s daughter’s employment at a firm with Democratic ties.
- Previous Attempt: This is not the first time Trump has requested Merchan’s recusal; a similar effort was made last year but was denied after an ethics panel found no significant conflict of interest.
- Reason for Concern: Trump’s lawyers argue that developments in the trial could financially benefit Authentic Campaigns, the political consultancy where Merchan’s daughter works, thereby questioning the judge’s impartiality.
- Prosecution’s Stance: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has urged the judge to dismiss Trump’s recusal request, stating there is no new evidence that would necessitate such an action.
- Trial Delays: Trump is reportedly seeking to postpone the trials in the four criminal cases against him until after the presidential election in November, where he is expected to face off against Joe Biden.
- Charges: In the New York case, Trump faces 34 counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
- Gag Order Expansion: Justice Merchan recently broadened a gag order to restrict Trump’s comments about not only witnesses and legal personnel but also the family members of trial participants, following disparaging remarks made by Trump about Merchan’s daughter.
- Free Speech Concerns: Trump’s legal team has contested the gag order, claiming it infringes upon his First Amendment rights to free speech.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump again seeks recusal of judge in hush money criminal trial
Newslooks- NEW YORK, (AP)
Donald Trump is again seeking to get the judge overseeing his April 15 New York criminal trial off the case, arguing the judge’s daughter’s work for a political consultancy with Democratic clients poses a conflict of interest.
The Republican presidential candidate last year made a similar request for Justice Juan Merchan to recuse himself, but the judge denied the bid after an ethics panel found that his daughter’s work did not pose reasonable questions about his impartiality.
In a one-page court filing dated April 1 and made public on Tuesday, the former president’s lawyers asked Merchan for permission to file a formal motion for him to recuse himself, arguing the trial would benefit his daughter’s firm, Authentic Campaigns, financially.
“It can no longer be ignored that Authentic’s commercial interests are benefited by developments in this case,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.
Neither Authentic nor a spokesperson for the New York state Office of Court Administration immediately responded to requests for comment.
Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which charged Trump last year, urged Merchan not to entertain Trump’s request.
“There is simply nothing new here that would alter this Court’s prior conclusion that nothing about this proceeding will directly benefit Authentic or this Court’s family member, let alone this Court,” prosecutors wrote in a Tuesday court filing.
Trump is aiming to delay trials in the four criminal cases he faces until after his expected Nov. 5 rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. He has pleaded not guilty in all cases.
No U.S. President has ever faced a criminal trial.
In the New York case, Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen’s $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump.
Trump denies any encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
On Monday, Merchan expanded a gag order restricting Trump’s speech about witnesses, court staff, and prosecutors to also cover trial participants’ family members.
Trump last week disparaged Merchan’s daughter online, calling her a “Rabid Trump Hater.”
His lawyers have said the gag order infringes on his right to free speech, which is protected by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.
