Former President Trump and his legal team have filed a motion requesting that Judge Juan Merchan be recused from the trial on hush money allegations due to his daughter's Democrat-affiliated political work and alleged 'hostility' against the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Trump’s lawyers stated in a 37-page motion filed Friday afternoon that Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, has a direct financial interest in the proceedings through her ownership stake and leadership role at Authentic Campaigns, Inc., a company that exclusively services Democrat clients and is ranked as the #21 vendor in connection with the 2024 election.
Merchan is presiding over the trial stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into alleged hush money payments ahead of the 2016 election. Trump’s lawyers cited public statements made by Ms. Merchan during a podcast in 2019 that reflected bias against President Trump and highlighted her connections to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and other entities actively campaigning against Trump.
Trump's attorneys also pointed out that at least six of Authentic’s clients referenced the case in fundraising solicitations around key trial events, with over $18 million disbursed to the company during the case's pendency. They argued that the judge's recent gag order restricted Trump's campaign speech and shielded the court from legitimate public criticism.
Trump respectfully submitted that the court must recuse itself based on constitutional due process and Judiciary Law § 14, citing appearances of impropriety. The trial is scheduled to commence in New York City on April 15 with jury selection, where Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
