Trump Again Calls For Hush Money Judge To Recuse Himself After Gag Order Expanded

Former President Donald Trump once again called for the judge overseeing his hush money case in New York to recuse himself, his latest attempt to see the case delayed indefinitely rather than go to trial.

Trump’s attorneys filed a letter on Monday arguing that Judge Juan Merchan was subject to a conflict of interest over his daughter’s work for a political consultant that has Democratic clients. The former president attacked Merchan and his daughter, Loren Merchan, in recent days on social media to the point the judge expanded a limited gag order against Trump over the course of the case.

“Your Honor’s daughter is an executive and partner at Authentic Campaigns, Inc.,” Trump’s attorneys wrote to the judge. “Authentic and Your Honor’s daughter are making money by supporting the creation and dissemination of campaign advocacy for President Trump’s opponent, political rivals, and the Democratic Party.”

“It can no longer be ignored that Authentic’s commercial interest are benefited by developments in this case that harm President Trump’s penal interests.”

Prosecutors on the case rejected Trump’s claims in their own filing on Tuesday.

“There is simply nothing new here that would alter this Court’s prior conclusion that nothing about this proceeding will directly benefit Authentic or this Court’s family member, let alone this Court,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office wrote.

Trump had argued late last year for Merchan’s removal, but the judge rejected the attempt and said his impartiality in the case could not “reasonably be questioned.” He added that the former president had “failed to demonstrate that there exists concrete, or even realistic reasons for recusal to be appropriate, much less required.”

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