Trump ‘hush money’ judge should recuse himself over daughter’s job, lawyers say
Donald Trump says the judge overseeing his “hush money” case should recuse himself because his daughter’s company has a “political and financial interest” in the outcome, new court papers show.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan should withdraw not only on account of his daughter’s interests, but due to his own 2020 election contributions, and because he urged former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg to be a government witness, lawyers for the former president argued in papers unsealed Friday.
Merchan’s daughter is the chief operating officer of Authentic Campaigns, which helps political candidates with their online campaigns.
The firm boasts of Democrat clients including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the court papers say.
“The political and financial interest of Your Honor’s daughter in Authentic Campaigns creates an actual or perceived conflict of interest because rulings and decisions Your Honor will be required to make in this case may result in a financial benefit to Your Honor’s daughter,” Trump’s lawyers Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche claimed in the court papers.
“It creates the very real prospect of tainting what is likely to be one of the most consequential — and politically divisive — criminal prosecutions in the history of this country,” the filing claims. “Plainly, there is an appearance of a partiality present here.”
The judge should have disclosed his daughter’s work before — or during — Trump’s arraignment, the lawyers claim.
Also, Merchan’s alleged donations in the 2020 presidential elections and through ActBlue to Biden and other democratic campaigns at least warrants further explanation, Trump’s lawyers argue.
Merchan allegedly encouraged Weisselberg to cooperate with prosecutors against Trump — which shows the judge is “someone who has prejudged the defendant’s guilt and is biased against his interests,” the court papers claim.
Even the appearance that Merchan has a political bias is enough reason to force him to take himself off the high-profile case, the lawyers claim.
“This case before this Court 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,” the filing claims. “Most respectfully, the foregoing facts compel the conclusion that Your Honor is not and thus should recuse.”
In April, the former commander-in-chief was hit in a 34-count indictment for crimes related to hush money payments allegedly made to former porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to silence them about alleged affairs with Trump.
Trial is set for March 25, 2024.
“As the case is currently pending in-front of the Judge, it would be inappropriate for any further comment.” New York courts spokesman Lucian Chalfen said.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
