NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s request for a new judge in his New York hush money criminal case has been denied as the case approaches significant rulings and potential sentencing next month. Judge Juan M. Merchan made the decision, stating the request was filled with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims regarding his impartiality.
This marks the third rejection of such requests from Trump’s legal team. They argue that the judge has a conflict of interest due to his daughter’s role as a political consultant for high-profile Democrats, including Kamala Harris, who is currently running against Trump.
The judge’s daughter, Loren Merchan, met Harris during the 2019 campaign though no significant relationship developed. Furthermore, the consulting firm she leads has not worked for Harris’s campaign or the Democratic National Committee during the ongoing election cycle.
A state court ethics panel had previously determined that Merchan could continue overseeing Trump’s case, concluding that a relative’s political activities do not reasonably question a judge’s impartiality.
Merchan has acknowledged making small donations to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign, including a $15 contribution to Biden. However, he insists on his ability to judge the case fairly, stating he will make decisions solely based on evidence and the law.
In his latest ruling, Merchan emphasized that mischaracterizations do not constitute a conflict and recusal is unnecessary. Despite this, Trump’s legal counsel has expressed heightened concerns, especially with Harris being Trump’s direct opponent.
Prosecutors labeled the allegations as frivolous attempts to relitigate prior issues. Responding to Judge Merchan’s donations and his daughter’s consulting role, a Trump campaign spokesman labeled him a conflicted judge who should have recused himself.
Trump has continued to voice complaints against Merchan, particularly regarding a partial gag order currently in place. A state appeals court recently upheld this order, preventing Trump from publicly discussing the prosecution team or their families.
In a separate matter, Trump was convicted in May for falsifying business records to conceal a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors characterized the payment as an effort to suppress potentially damaging stories during Trump’s first presidential campaign. Trump has consistently claimed that the allegations are false and argues that the case is a politically motivated attack against his current campaign.
Looking ahead, Trump’s legal team is pursuing options to challenge the verdict and dismiss the case altogether, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. This decision restricts the ability of prosecutors to use a president’s official actions as evidence against them for unofficial conduct.
The judge is expected to rule on the immunity claims shortly, with the upcoming dates set for further proceedings and potential sentencing.
The hush money case is one of four criminal cases filed against Trump in recent years. In another significant case involving classified documents, a federal court dismissed the charges against Trump last month, with the Justice Department appealing the decision. Other cases concerning attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election remain unresolved as well, with trial dates not expected until after the upcoming November election.
