In a recent bid to stave off the impending New York trial, the legal team representing Donald Trump filed several motions, some of which seem to bear striking similarities to templates previously used. This flurry of filings comes as former President Trump braces himself for trial, where he stands accused of fabricating business records to conceal the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Among the chain of motions, Trump’s lawyers have yet again moved to recuse Justice Juan Merchan. This motion, submitted only 12 days prior to the trial’s commencement, is in fact a renewal of a similar filing from last year. According to the motion, Justice Merchan was deemed unfit to adjudicate on the grounds that his daughter works for a Democratic political communications firm. The firm produces emails and targeted adverts, some of which address Trump’s legal predicaments. They suggested that she could ostensibly reap a financial windfall following his conviction.
Despite the steady rotations of recusal motions, Justice Merchan self-assertively denied the motion in August, citing that the conjectural situations proposed by the defense does not meet the official standard required for recusal.
However, on the eve of the trial, a renewed motion for recusal has been released, emphasizing that President Trump is now the most likely GOP nominee and a strong contender in the 2024 presidential elections. This has bolstered his status as a political target for Justice Merchan’s daughter and her employer. Nevertheless, the District Attorney’s Office seems less than impressed, responding that the claims name neither new laws nor facts that would arouse doubts about the court’s previous resolution.
As the trial date edges ever closer, reports of two emergency appeals emanate from Trump’s attorneys. Desperate to delay the proceeding, one appeal challenges the gag order while the other requests for a change of venue.