Jury selection is scheduled to begin soon for the to determine whether Trump falsified business records to criminally cover up a 2016 hush money payment to a porn actress who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump, who denies the affair, pleaded not guilty.
Trump is making another attempt to force the judge off the case, with his lawyers arguing that Merchan’s daughter, Loren, has a “direct financial interest” in the former president’s case. In a 37-page motion, the lawyers note that two clients of her firm, the progressive digital agency Authentic, are President Biden and Vice President Harris.
The lawyers argued that in overseeing the case, Merchan wields “enormous power” to “incarcerate and incapacitate” Trump — the “chief political rival” to several Authentic clients — creating a conflict of interest requiring recusal.
“Personal political views may not be a basis for recusal. But profiting from the promotion of a political agenda that is hostile to President Trump, and has included fundraising solicitations based on this case, must be,” the lawyers wrote. “Accordingly, President Trump respectfully requests that the Court recuse itself.”
The push comes after the judge rejected a recusal motion last summer that also cited his daughter’s employment, as well as $35 in donations the judge made during the 2020 campaign cycle to the Biden campaign and two liberal-leaning groups.
The judge said he had received guidance from a state ethics advisory committee that he didn’t need to step aside.
The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee have more here.
