Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have filed a motion seeking the recusal of Acting Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan from Trump’s criminal case—saying the judge’s daughter’s political work and his prior interactions with a former Trump Org. CFO should disqualify him from presiding over the matter.
“Because of actual or perceived impartiality, Your Honor cannot preside over this case, for at least two reasons,” Trump defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles wrote in the motion. “(1) the political and financial interest of Your Honor’s daughter in Authentic Campaigns creates an actual or perceived conflict of interest because rulings and decisions Your Honor will be required to make in this case may result in a financial benefit to Your Honor’s daughter; and (2) Your Honor’s role in a prior case encouraging Allen Weisselberg to cooperate against President Trump and his interests shows a preconceived bias against President Trump.”
