Summary:
- Donald Trump’s third attempt to remove Judge Juan Merchan from his hush money case was unsuccessful.
- The judge, who convicted Trump of 34 felonies in May, rejected claims of a conflict of interest.
- Sentencing is set for September 18, following a separate hearing on September 16 regarding the verdict.
In a decisive move, Judge Juan Merchan has rejected Donald Trump’s third attempt to have him removed from the hush money case involving payments to silence former adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump’s legal team had argued that Merchan’s daughter’s work with a Democrat-leaning organization presented a “perceived conflict of interest,” urging the judge to recuse himself from the case.
The judge, who convicted Trump of 34 felonies in May for his role in covering up the payments, dismissed the claims as “stale and unsubstantiated.” He emphasized that the arguments presented by Trump’s defense were merely repetitive and lacked substantial evidence. Merchan stated, “Defense Counsel’s reliance, and apparent citation to his own prior affirmation, rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims, is unavailing.”
Trump’s legal team is also awaiting a separate hearing on September 16, where they will argue for the overturning of the verdict based on a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Following this, sentencing is scheduled for September 18. Despite the controversy, Judge Merchan remains committed to ensuring that the case is decided based solely on the evidence and the law, without undue influence.
