Donald Trump's request for a new judge in his hush money case has been denied by Judge Juan M. Merchan, marking the third time such a request has been rejected. Trump's legal team had argued that Merchan's impartiality was compromised due to his daughter's work as a political consultant for prominent Democrats and campaigns, including Vice President Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential run.
Last year, a state court ethics panel ruled that Merchan could continue presiding over the case, stating that a relative's political activities did not warrant questioning the judge's fairness. Merchan has consistently maintained his ability to handle the case with fairness and impartiality.
Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, expressed heightened concerns over potential bias given Harris' status as Trump's Democratic opponent in the upcoming White House election. However, prosecutors dismissed these claims as a baseless attempt to rehash the issue.
The case is now moving towards a crucial ruling and potential sentencing next month, with Merchan firmly in place as the presiding judge.
