US Judge Reject Trump's Request to Change Him in Hush Money Case

Judge Juan M. Merchan has rejected Trump's latest attempt to have him removed from overseeing the hush money criminal case in New York. This decision, announced on August 14, marks the third time Merchan has denied such a request from Trump's legal team.

The case revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal a payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The payment was allegedly intended to keep Daniels quiet about an affair she claims to have had with Trump in 2006. Trump has consistently denied these allegations, labeling the case as a politically motivated attack aimed at damaging his current campaign.

Trump's lawyers argued that Judge Merchan has a conflict of interest due to his daughter, Loren Merchan, working as a political consultant for prominent Democrats, including Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic nominee against Trump. However, Merchan dismissed these claims as "rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated," asserting his ability to remain impartial.

"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," Merchan wrote in his three-page decision. "Recusal is therefore not necessary, much less required."

The judge's daughter, Loren Merchan, met Harris occasionally in 2019 but never developed an individual relationship with her, according to Mike Nellis, founder of the consulting firm Authentic Campaigns Inc. Nellis also clarified that the firm has not worked for Harris' campaign, President Joe Biden’s now-ended reelection bid or the Democratic National Committee in the 2024 election cycle.

Despite these clarifications, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized Merchan as a "highly-conflicted judge" who "should have long ago recused himself from this case." Cheung accused Merchan of being biased against Trump and beholden to Democratic partisan interests.

Judge Merchan acknowledged making small donations to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign, including $15 to Biden, but maintained his commitment to fairness. "I will continue to base decisions on the evidence and the law, without fear or favor, casting aside undue influence," he stated.

The case is moving towards a key ruling and potential sentencing next month. Merchan has scheduled September 16 for a ruling on Trump's claim of presidential immunity and set September 18 for "the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate."

This hush money case is one of four criminal prosecutions brought against Trump last year. While a federal case accusing Trump of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate was dismissed last month, the Justice Department is appealing.

Other cases, both federal and state, concerning Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, are not expected to go to trial before the November election.