A New York judge has once again rejected former President Donald Trump's request for a new judge in his hush-money criminal case.
As reported by MarketWatch, this decision comes as the case approaches a crucial ruling and potential sentencing next month.
In a decision posted Wednesday, Judge Juan M. Merchan declined to step aside from the case. He dismissed Trump's demand as a rehash "rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims" about the political ties of Merchan's daughter and his ability to judge the case fairly and impartially.
This marks the third time that Judge Merchan has rejected such a request from Trump's lawyers. The defense team has consistently argued that Merchan, a state court judge in Manhattan, has a conflict of interest due to his daughter's work as a political consultant for prominent Democrats and campaigns.
Among the campaigns mentioned was that of Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2020 presidential run. Harris is now the Democratic Party's 2024 White House nominee, which Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche argued makes their concerns "even more concrete."
However, a state court ethics panel previously stated that a relative's independent political activities are not "a reasonable basis to question the judge's impartiality."
Judge Merchan has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to basing his rulings on evidence and law without fear or favor. In his three-page ruling, he stated:
With these fundamental principles in mind, this Court now reiterates for the third time, that which should already be clear — innuendo and mischaracterizations do not a conflict create.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, which prosecuted the case, declined to comment on the ruling. Messages seeking comment from Trump's lawyer were left unanswered.
Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records to conceal a 2016 deal to pay off adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
Prosecutors argued that this payout was part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing potentially damaging stories during his first presidential campaign.
The former president maintains his innocence, claiming the business records were not falsified and that the case is a political maneuver aimed at damaging his current campaign. Trump has pledged to appeal the conviction once he is sentenced.
Judge Merchan has set September 16 as the date to rule on Trump's immunity claim, which is based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. September 18 has been designated for "the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate."
Judge Merchan's latest decision to remain on the case despite Trump's objections marks a significant development in this ongoing legal saga. The rejection of the recusal request means the trial will proceed as planned, with potential sentencing next month. This case continues to be a focal point in the intersection of law and politics, with implications for both Trump's legal situation and his political aspirations.
