Trump’s secret judge refuses third impeachment request

The New York judge who oversaw former President Trump’s criminal trial has refused the former president’s latest request to recuse himself from the case due to the judge’s daughter’s work for Democrats.

It is the third time that Judge Juan Merchan has refused to recuse himself, insisting once again that there is no conflict and that he will remain on the case as it moves towards sentencing in September.

“Stated clearly, Defendant’s arguments are nothing more than a repetition of stale and baseless claims,” Merchan said. wrote in his decision.

Like other Trump judges and prosecutors whom he considers enemies, Merchan has drawn the former president’s ire in repeated attacks on social media and elsewhere.

Trump’s legal team discovered how Merchan’s daughter, Loren, is an executive at Authentic, a progressive digital agency. She has worked for Democratic clients, including President Biden and Vice President Harris, whom Trump is running against in the 2024 election.

After Merchan twice rejected motions to dismiss ahead of Trump’s blockbuster trial this spring, his lawyers in recent days mounted a third attempt as Biden dropped out of running for re-election and Harris emerged as the Democrats’ presidential nominee.

“Your Honor’s daughter has a long-standing relationship with Harris, including work on political campaigns. She has obtained – and expects to obtain in the future – extensive financial, professional and personal benefits from her relationship with Harris,” Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in her request.

But the judge rejected the charge that he is conflicted, noting that a state ethics advisory committee last year provided guidance that he did not need to step aside.

“This Court now reiterates, for the third time, what should already be clear – insinuations and mischaracterizations do not create conflict. Refusal, therefore, is not necessary, much less required,” wrote Merchan.

The judge, however, received a warning for making a total of $35 in political contributions to Biden’s campaign and two liberal-leaning groups, including one called “Stop Republicans.” Although the donations occurred before Merchan took on Trump’s hush money case, ethics rules prohibit New York judges from making political contributions.

“The sitting judge has consistently and recklessly demonstrated his personal bias against President Trump throughout this entire case, including issuing an illegal, unconstitutional, and election-interfering gag order against the president and his campaign, and admission
constitutionally prohibited ‘evidence’ at trial,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “The highly divisive judge should have recused himself long ago in this case.”

Merchan oversaw Trump’s trial this spring, which culminated in a jury finding him guilty on all 34 counts.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s (D) office accused Trump of lying in New York business records to hide damaging information from voters during his successful 2016 campaign. The case revolved around payments Trump made to his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, who paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 just before that year’s election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump denies any affair.

Bragg’s office rejected Trump’s attempts to recuse himself, calling the latest “vexatious and frivolous.”

“The defendant does not identify new facts or changes in the law that justify a different outcome,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18 unless Merchan overturns the verdict due to the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling. A decision is expected shortly before sentencing, and Trump has promised to appeal if the case moves forward.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story