Former United States President Donald Trump seeks recusal of the judge in charge of "hush money" case over daughter's politician consulting job
Trump's attorneys also argued that Judge Juan Merchan's role in securing cooperation from Allen Weisselberg is also grounds for recusal
Judge Merchan's daughter was previously involved in 2020 with the Biden campaign and now-Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign
Former United States President Donald Trump is seeking the recusal of the judge that oversees his "hush money" case over the latter's daughter, who has a politician consulting job for Democrats.
This is the latest attempt of the Republican businessman to undercut his criminal case in New York that is set for trial next year. In a court filing that was made available to the public on Friday, attorneys for the former president argued that New York Judge Juan Merchan should recuse himself from the case.
Donald Trump's Hush Money Case
They argued that this was due to the judge's daughter who had politician consulting work that included, in 2020, the Biden campaign and now-Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign.
The Republican businessman's lawyers added that Merchan's supposed role in prosecutors' efforts to secure cooperation from Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg was another reason that justifies the recusal, as per CNN.
Trump's lawyers also asked the judge to explain his small-dollar political contributions that were made to Democrats in 2020, which includes $15 that went to the campaign of their client's opponent, now-President Joe Biden.
The former president has repeatedly attacked Judge Merchan and called him a "Trump-hating judge" as part of his efforts to target both the prosecutors and the judge involved with the hush money case.
The case gained traction when the Republican businessman was charged in April with 34 counts of falsifying business records. These were all regarding repayments made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen that were allegedly used as hush money payments during Trump's 2016 campaign.
Seeking the Judge's Recusal
On top of the demand for Judge Merchan's recusal from the case, lawyers for the former president are seeking to move the hush money case into federal court. They argue that the allegations made against their client are related to his duties as president. However, the district attorney's office opposes the move, according to ABC News.
In their motion for recusal, Trump's attorney said that there is a need to "assure the public that the judge who presides over this historic case is actually impartial." They argued that this cannot be guaranteed by Judge Merchan.
Attorneys for the former president also cited Judge Merchan's involvement in a prior criminal case against the Trump Organization, which was convicted of tax fraud. They argue that the judge urged Weisselberg to plead guilty and cooperate against his employer.
Despite the multitude of charges against him, former President Trump has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he made hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The case also comes amid other legal battles that the Republican businessman is facing for a slew of other controversies, said The Hill.
