Trump’s attempt to remove judge in financial silence case fails again

NEW YORK – The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal case in Manhattan on Wednesday denied the former president’s last offer cause the judge to recuse himself from the case, writing that Trump’s argument consisted of “nothing more than a repetition of stale and unsubstantiated assertions.”

Judge Juan Merchan’s decision means he will remain on the case during Trump’s sentencing, which is scheduled for September 18, for his conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a secret payment to a porn star.

Before the silent trial began, Trump filed two unsuccessful motions urging Merchan to withdraw from the case. After a jury convicted Trump on all 34 criminal counts, Trump’s lawyers mounted a third recusal bid, arguing in late July that the judge had a conflict of interest due to what they described as Trump’s “longstanding relationship.” his daughter with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala. Harris.

They cited work done by Merchan’s daughter’s company, Authentic Campaigns Inc., in service of Harris’ past and current presidential campaigns.

That argument, however, was virtually identical to Trump’s two previous efforts to get Merchan to step aside, and in his Wednesday ruling, Merchan rebuked Trump and his lawyers for what the judge characterized as their repetitive efforts, writing that “insinuations and mischaracterizations do not create a conflict.”

While Merchan reiterated that he has previously advocated “zealous advocacy and creative advocacy,” he told attorneys that “attorney has been repeatedly warned that such advocacy should not come at the expense of professional responsibility in the role of court officer. ”

Merchan also noted that in May 2023, a New York judicial ethics advisory committee issued an opinion in response to Merchan’s investigation into his daughter’s work, writing that “[a] the judge’s relatives remain free to engage in their own independent and bona fide political activities.”