Donald Trump rallies against Juan Merchan for keeping him under gag order and rejecting his recusal bid
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Donald Trump rallied against New York Judge Juan Merchan for keeping him under a gag order after he rejected the former president's third attempt to rescue himself from the hush money case.
In his decision posted on Wednesday, August 14, Juan Merchan declined to step aside and said Trump’s demand was a rehash “rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims” about his ability to remain impartial.
Donald Trump loses third bid to replace Judge Juan Merchan
It is the third time that Juan Merchan has rejected such a request from lawyers for the former president.
Merchan did more than just reject the motion. He also criticized Trump's counsel during the proceedings.
He recalled in his ruling that "counsel has been warned repeatedly that such advocacy must not come at the expense of professional responsibility in one's role as an officer of the court," MSNBC reported.
"Counsel has merely repeated arguments that have already been denied by this and higher courts. Defense Counsel's reliance, and apparent citation to his own prior affirmation, rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims, is unavailing," the judge added.
Donald Trump's lawyers cite Kamala Harris' presidential nomination for Judge Juan Merchan to rescue him from case
Donald Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, contended that the judge has a conflict of interest because of his daughter Loren Merchan's political campaign-related work for prominent Democrats, including Kamala Harris, when she sought the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination.
Yet, according to consulting firm founder Mike Nellis, Loren met Harris occasionally in 2019 but never “developed an individual relationship” with her, Associated Press reported.
According to Nellis, Authentic Campaigns Inc has not been involved with Harris' campaign, President Joe Biden's concluded reelection effort, or the Democratic National Committee during the 2024 election cycle.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg also slammed the defense move saying it is "a vexatious and frivolous attempt to relitigate an issue that was twice addressed by this Court."
The prosecution also said before the ruling that the defense "identifies no new facts or changes in the law that warrant a different outcome."
Donald Trump rallied against Juan Merchan on gag order as he refuses recusal attempt ahead of sentencing
As Donald Trump approaches sentencing, Juan Merchan must decide on another motion from the former president to overturn his guilty verdicts, considering the Supreme Court's decision to grant extensive presidential immunity.
Feeling a sense of loss, Trump rambled against Merchan's gag order again, suggesting Supreme Court's involvement. "New York is trying to steal the Election!" he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"Judge Merchan just ruled that I, the Republican candidate for President, and leading in the Polls, am still under a Gag Order CONCERNING VERY IMPORTANT THINGS WHICH MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT," Trump began the post.
"I AM NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER REPORTERS QUESTIONS. Can you believe this? The New York Courts refuse to act. This is happening right before the voting begins on September 6th," he continued.
"Suppression and manipulation of the vote. Voter interference. This is the real Fascist “stuff,” the old Soviet Union! So much to say, and I’m not allowed to say it. Must get US Supreme Court involved," he further wrote.
This month, a state appeals court maintained the gag order, prohibiting Trump from publicly discussing the prosecution team, court staff, or their relatives, including the daughter of Merchan.
