Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have requested that Judge Juan Merchan recuse himself from presiding over Trump’s criminal case, alleging bias and a conflict of interest.
The lawyers argue that Merchan’s daughter works for a digital agency, Authentic, which counts several Democratic officials among its clients, creat-ing an “actual or perceived conflict of interest.” They also claim that Merchan displayed a preconceived bias by encouraging Trump Organisation’s former CFO, Allen Weisselberg, to cooperate against Trump in a previous case. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax fraud after being indicted alongside the Trump Or-ganisation, which was found guilty in a trial overseen by Merchan.
In addition to the recusal request, Trump’s law-yers asked Merchan to publicly explain political contributions made in his name during the 2020 presidential campaign. Records show that Merchan made three contributions totaling $35 through ActBlue, supporting President Joe Biden’s campaign, the Progressive Turnout Project, and Stop Republicans. The lawyers argue that these contribu-tions raise questions about Merchan’s impartiality.
Trump’s lawyers emphasised the importance of impartiality in such a historic case and expressed the need for the public to have confidence in the presid-ing judge.—AFP
