Trump loses motion to remove judge in hush money case
The Manhattan judge overseeing Donald Trump’s “hush money” criminal case denied the former president’s request to fire himself – saying he had “reviewed.” [his] conscience” and is sure that he can govern fairly.
Trump, 77, in June asked Manhattan Superior Court Justice Juan Merchan to withdraw from District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s criminal case on the grounds that the judge’s daughter’s company allegedly had a “political and financial interest.” have at the exit.
But Merchan dismissed Trump’s arguments, saying in a decision issued on Friday that it “would not be in the public interest” to withdraw from the case.
The judge wrote that he “heard”. [his] conscience and is safe in [his] Ability to be fair and impartial,” the filing reads.
Trump had argued that the fact that Merchan’s daughter is the executive director of Authentic Campaigns — a digital marketing agency that works with Democratic Party candidates including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris — created either an actual or perceived conflict of interest with the judge took care of the case.
The former president also said that the fact that Merchan donated $35 to Democratic causes in 2020 and that he urged former Trump Organization Treasury Chief Allen Weisselberg to testify for the government are additional reasons for be a rejection.
But Merchan said Trump has “failed to demonstrate that there are specific or even realistic reasons for the reasonableness of a denial, let alone that those reasons require it.”
“The speculative and hypothetical scenarios offered by the defendant fall far short of the legal standard,” he wrote.
The judge also sought an opinion from the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, which said on May 4, “We see nothing in the investigation to indicate that the outcome of the case will have any impact on the judge’s relative, the business.” of relatives or … could have any of their interests.”
Regarding the donations, the Advisory Committee said: “These modest political donations, made more than two years ago, cannot reasonably create the impression of bias.”
Regarding the Weisselberg argument, Merchan said the Trump Organization filed a very similar request in a criminal case against the real estate company that he had rejected at the time.
The Trump motion “is being denied for the same reason it was denied the first time,” Merchan wrote.
Bragg in April filed a 34-count indictment against the former commander in chief for allegedly making former porn star Stormy Daniels pay for her claims that she had an affair with Trump while he was married to his now-wife Melania Trump. to keep silent.
The trial in the case is scheduled for March 24, 2024.
Trump’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Merchan’s decision Monday.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment.
Trump also faces two federal charges, one related to his alleged efforts to meddle in the 2020 election and the other accusing him of pouring oodles at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office hoarding secret documents and then lying about them.
The embattled former president has denied any wrongdoing.
