Trump Loses In Court Again
A New York judge has once again rejected former President Donald Trump’s request for recusal in his ongoing hush money case, marking the third time the judge has ruled against such a plea. Justice Juan Merchan, who is set to sentence Trump on September 18, dismissed the claims of conflict of interest raised by Trump’s legal team.
In his decision, released on August 13, Justice Merchan stated that Trump’s legal team had presented no new evidence and merely reiterated arguments that had been previously considered and rejected by both his court and higher courts. Merchan criticized the claims as “rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated allegations.”
The case revolves around Trump’s conviction on May 30 for falsifying business records. The charges stem from a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, orchestrated by Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, to prevent a potential scandal before the 2016 election. Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to this payment.
In response to the conviction, Trump’s legal team requested for the third time that Justice Merchan step down due to alleged conflicts of interest stemming from the judge’s daughter’s work for a political consultancy with ties to Democratic campaigns, including Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid. Harris, now Vice President, is expected to be Trump’s opponent in the upcoming November 5 presidential election.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has labeled Trump’s recusal request as “frivolous,” arguing that it is merely a tactic to undermine the fairness of the proceedings. They criticized the attempt as an effort to “relitigate” resolved issues, with no basis to question the impartiality of the court.
Trump’s attorneys are also challenging the conviction on grounds related to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, which granted former presidents broad immunity for actions taken while in office. Justice Merchan has indicated that he will address these arguments by September 16.
Throughout the case, Trump has used his social media platform to criticize Justice Merchan, labeling him as “highly conflicted” and describing the court as a “kangaroo court.” These statements have contributed to the judge’s decision to expand a gag order, restricting Trump from making public comments about court staff and their families.
