Donald Trump’s Latest Setback in Hush-Money Case
In the latest development in Donald Trump’s hush-money case, Judge Juan M. Merchan has rejected a third request from Trump’s attorneys to step down, leading to a key ruling and possible sentencing next month. The attorneys argued that Merchan had a conflict of interest due to his daughter’s involvement as a political adviser to prominent Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite the repeated requests, Merchan has maintained his confidence in handling the case fairly and impartially.
State Court Ethics Panel’s Decision
Last year, a state court ethics panel reviewed Merchan’s situation and determined that his daughter’s political activities did not compromise his impartiality. They stated that there was no reasonable basis to question the judge’s fairness in the case. Despite this ruling, Trump’s lawyer, Todd Branch, raised concerns as Harris became Trump’s Democratic opponent in the White House election, leading to a more specific objection from the defense.
Prosecutors’ Response
Prosecutors have dismissed the defense’s claims as an unwarranted and frivolous attempt to challenge the judge’s impartiality. They argue that the repeated attempts to find a new judge in the case are unnecessary and do not hold merit. With the key ruling and possible sentencing approaching next month, the focus will now shift to the courtroom as the case continues to unfold.
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