Merchan Isn't Going Anywhere
Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees Trump's hush-money case is, once again, refusing to recuse himself.
Donald Trump's demand for the judge's recusal is part of a pattern of desperation. A continuation to delay, and to stay out of jail. The former one-term, twice-impeached president is convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records.
Not wanting to admit to his crime, Trump has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. At the same time, he's spun the narrative that these charges are politically motivated and led by Democrats.
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Attempts At Forcing Recusal
On Tuesday's decision, Merchan said the arguments are:
"Nothing more than a repetition of stale and unsubstantial claims. For the first time, that which should already be clear - innuendo and mischaracterizations do not a conflict create. Recusal is therefore not necessary, much less required."
He also went after Trump's lawyers saying:
"Counsel has been warned repeatedly that such advocacy must not come at the expense of professional responsibility in one's role as an officer of the court. Counsel has merely repeated arguments that have already been denied by this and higher courtes. Defense Counsel's reliance, and apparent citation to his own prior affirmation, rife with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims, is unavailing."
It should no longer be shocking that Trump's lawyers have no shame in how they defend their client. Trump's demands on them have caused many to leave frustrated, creating a revolving door of former and new lawyers. It's also been reported when Trump himself has been angry at his lawyers when they don't go out of their way to defend him, no matter the cost.
Donald Trump Will Pick Up Where Richard Nixon Left Off
To make the same demands already made before which have all been turned down, is just more strong-arming and testing the court system. This looks like Trump's attempt at "It's rabbit season, duck season," logic where like Bugs Bunny, he thinks that in this back-and-forth, he's going to trick the judge into recusing themselves after all.
Even District Attorney for Manhattan Alvin Bragg has pointed this out:
“A vexatious and frivolous attempt to relitigate an issue that was twice addressed by this Court in orders that the First Department then refused to disturb."
Bragg is referring to his New York court of appeals.
Going After Judge's Family, Again
Again, nothing is off-limits for this guy. In other cases, Trump and his supporters have made threats to the family members of judges. In the case of Judge Reggie Walton, his daughter was targeted. He referred to them as Democrats and Trump haters targeting him.
Such is the case with his demands that Merchan remove himself from this case where he also targets the Judge's daughter as the reason for his demands. This goes with the death threats made against his opponents usually by his base, no doubt instigated by his social media posts. If he would just tell them to stop making those threats, they would but that he's not even attempting to, implicate his involvement.
Much of this was dealt with through gag orders put on Trump because of threats, but much of this is also seen as free speech. It might be worth it for him to keep making threats as he continues to demand the judge's recusal until he succeeds.
[Featured image "New York State Supreme Court, Manhattan As seen from Foley Square, 19 July 2012" by Rich Mitchell via Flickr / CC BY 2.0]
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