![]() ![]() Merchan’s daughter, Loren, is a political consultant whose firm has worked on campaigns for prominent Democrats including Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and California Gov. Trump’s recusal motion expands on the criticism he's lobbed at Merchan and his family in statements and on his Truth Social platform. At a recent hearing, Merchan said he was “bending over backwards” to make sure he wasn't limiting Trump from having “every opportunity possible to advance his candidacy.” Merchan has appeared respectful and exceedingly accommodating in his limited interactions with Trump and has refused to issue a gag order, even as the ex-president continued to pillory him, District Attorney Alvin Bragg and others involved the case. A spokesperson for New York’s state court system, Lucian Chalfen, said that since the case is pending in front of the judge, "it would be inappropriate for any further comment.” A federal judge has scheduled a June 27 hearing on that request.Ī message seeking comment was left with Merchan. The hush-money case is continuing in state court while Trump’s lawyers seek to transfer it to federal court, which would also remove Merchan from the judicial equation. Along with their motion, Trump’s lawyers submitted 42 pages of what that say is evidence of Merchan’s political bias. Trump’s lawyers could be also making a play to raise the issue on appeal if he's convicted. The decision on recusal is up to Merchan himself, who previously rejected such a request when Trump’s company was on trial. The former president's criminal case is “historic and it is important that the People of the State of New York and this nation have confidence that the jurist who presides over it is impartial,” Trump's lawyers wrote in what's known as a motion for recusal. Such contributions are typically prohibited under court rules. Merchan did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press asking him to confirm or deny if he's the person who made the donations, which include $15 for President Joe Biden’s campaign against Trump, according to federal campaign finance records. ![]() The charges relate to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that Trump had extramarital sexual encounters. In the New York case, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. ![]() ![]() (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Elizabeth Williams/AP Show More Show Less Trump's lawyers are demanding that the judge in his New York City criminal case step aside, echoing the former president's complaints that he's "a Trump hating-judge" with a family full of "Trump haters." Trump's lawyers said June 2, that Judge Juan Manuel Merchan has shown anti-Trump bias in previous cases related to the businessman-turned-politician. Seth Wenig/AP Show More Show Less 2 of3 FILE - This artist sketch depicts former President Donald Trump, far left, pleading not guilty as the Clerk of the Court reads the charges and asks him "How do you plea?" Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in a Manhattan courtroom in New York, as his attorney Joseph Tacopina, center, watches. 1 of3 FILE - Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. ![]()
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