The judge presiding over Donald Trump's criminal trial regarding hush money payments has rejected the former president's latest attempt to have him removed from the case. Trump had sought to disqualify Judge Juan Merchan, citing the judge's daughter's involvement in Democratic campaigns. However, an ethics committee previously found no grounds for the judge to step down.
In his decision, Judge Merchan emphasized that innuendo and mischaracterization do not constitute a conflict of interest. He stated that Trump failed to present any new evidence to warrant a reconsideration of the matter, noting that the arguments put forth had already been dismissed by both lower and higher courts.
Trump is set to be sentenced next month following his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a payment made to a porn star prior to the 2016 election. This conviction marked Trump as the first former president to be found guilty of a felony and the first major-party presidential nominee to be convicted of a crime while running for the presidency.
Judge Merchan reaffirmed his commitment to impartiality, stating that he will continue to base his decisions on the evidence and the law, free from external influence. He emphasized that the court will uphold its standards throughout the case, ensuring a fair and just legal process.
