Trump is still in big trouble in NYC

Judge Juan Merchan has, for the third time, refused to recuse himself from Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York, one of the major court cases involving the former president. Trump, despite his recent allegations accusing the judge of having ties to Kamala Harris, his political rival, failed to secure his recusal.

The judge who oversaw Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial declined to step aside from the case on Wednesday, rebutting Trump’s claims that the judge had a distant connection to Kamala Harris that posed a conflict. https://t.co/sy5WPzHVGH

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 14, 2024

In his ruling, Judge Merchan once again rejected Donald Trump’s arguments, calling them “old, unfounded allegations”.

Judge Merchan stated that the lawyer had merely repeated arguments that have been rejected by the Court and other courts.

The judge also mentioned that the defense was resorting to previously refuted allegations.

Merchan was also particularly critical of Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, and his colleagues, stressing the importance of professionalism.

Trump, through his lawyers, argued that there was a conflict of interest involving the judge since Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential candidate and Trump’s rival, as well as Merchan’s daughter, were both involved in political campaigns.

Both the prosecutor of record, Alvin Bragg, and Judge Merchan have deemed this argument frivolous and assert that Trump has not identified any new facts or change in the law that would justify a different result.

Trump is attempting to escape his sentencing set for September 18, following his conviction by a jury on May 30 on 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records.

Trump retains a glimmer of hope, however, following a recent Supreme Court ruling granting broad immunity to presidents.

Judge Merchan has yet to rule on a defense motion seeking to set aside Trump’s guilty verdicts in the case.