Former President Trump and his legal team have filed a motion to have Judge Juan Merchan removed from the trial on hush money allegations due to his daughter’s involvement with a Democrat-affiliated political consulting firm, Authentic Campaigns, Inc. Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche filed a 37-page motion stating that Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, has a financial interest in the proceedings due to her position at the company. The trial is part of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into alleged hush money payments prior to the 2016 election.
Blanche argued that Merchan’s daughter’s company services only Democrat clients and holds a high rank among vendors involved in the 2024 election. The motion also referenced comments made by Loren Merchan in a podcast in 2019 that indicated a bias against President Trump. Trump’s attorney claimed that at least six of Authentic’s clients referenced the case in their fundraising solicitations around the time of the indictment, suggesting a conflict of interest. Blanche also emphasized that Merchan has been reportedly hostile towards Trump and imposed a gag order on the former president.
The motion alleged that Authentic Campaigns, Inc. has a clear connection to Democratic politicians and entities, including President Biden, Vice President Harris, and various members of Congress. The company promoted connections to Trump’s political rivals and opponents, including the President and Vice President, on its website and in social media posts. Trump has criticized the case as election interference and a political witch hunt launched by his opponents. Blanche argued that the judge needs to recuse himself from the trial to ensure constitutional due process and avoid any appearance of impropriety.
The trial is scheduled to begin on April 15 in New York City, with jury selection expected to take place soon. Last April, Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in connection to alleged hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign. The charges accuse Trump of repeatedly falsifying records to conceal criminal conduct from the public during the election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts and continues to maintain that the case is an attempt by his political opponents to interfere in the electoral process.
The motion filed by Trump’s legal team raises concerns about the judge’s potential bias against the former president due to his daughter’s connections with a Democrat-affiliated company. It points to statements made by Merchan’s daughter that suggest a bias against Trump and highlights Authentic Campaigns, Inc.’s promotion of its ties to Democratic politicians and entities. The motion argues that the judge’s actions, including imposing a gag order on Trump, create an appearance of impropriety and undermine the former president’s ability to defend himself in a fair trial.
The ongoing legal battle between Trump and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office over hush money payments made during the 2016 campaign continues to be a contentious issue. Trump’s legal team is pushing for Judge Merchan to recuse himself from the trial to ensure a fair and impartial process. The trial is expected to proceed as scheduled in April, with the former president facing numerous charges related to falsifying business records. Trump maintains his innocence and contends that the case is politically motivated to undermine his reputation and prospects for future political endeavors.
