- Extensive secret gag prohibits attacks on judge’s daughter, Democratic campaign consultant.
- On Tuesday, Trump found a way around the gag order, instead attacking the girl in a lawsuit.
- She “earns money” from “an advocacy campaign in support of President Trump’s opponent,” the filing says.
Donald Trump has found a way around a recently expanded gag order that prohibits him from attacking his secret judge’s Democratic campaign consultant daughter: attack the daughter with legal documents.
Trump himself has refrained from attacking Loren Merchan, daughter of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, at least since the judge extended the silence order Monday evening.
But on Tuesday evening, Trump’s lawyers resumed the attack.
In a new filing, they requested that the judge recuse himself from the case, for which jury selection is scheduled to begin in Manhattan on April 15.
Their proposed reason for challenge? Loren Merchan’s work on behalf of high-profile Democrats such as Joe Biden and Kamala creates a conflict of interest for her father, the judge, the defense argued.
The daughter, through her left-wing political consultancy, Authentic Campaigns, is “making money” from Trump’s legal woes — and her father, the judge, they say, is somehow complicit.
“Authentic has received millions of dollars in disbursements from entities associated with President Trump’s political rivals since the indictment was returned,” read the letter addressed to the judge Tuesday evening, signed by defense attorneys Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche.
“Some of these funds were contributed to Authentic by entities associated with legislators and PACs who used email and/or social media to solicit contributions specifically based on this case,” the letter continues.
“There is therefore strong evidence that Authentic used this matter to make money,” the letter states.
“There is an unacceptable risk that Court family relationships will influence judicial conduct,” the letter concludes.
The letter requests Merchan’s permission to expand on his recusal request by filing “a motion in support of these arguments that includes a briefing and evidence on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.”
Loren Merchan did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Manhattan prosecutors did not immediately respond to the request for recusal, but called Trump’s attacks on members of the judge’s family “dangerous” and “reprehensible.”
Prosecutors argued Monday that Trump’s personal attacks on people connected to the case “threaten the integrity of these proceedings and are intended to intimidate witnesses and trial participants, including this Court,” i.e. i.e. the judge.
In August, the judge rejected a similar defense request that he recuse himself.
The judge did not immediately rule on Tuesday’s request, but he rejected all defense allegations that his daughter’s consulting work presented a conflict of interest.
The judge also repeatedly warned the defense against resorting to frivolous delaying tactics – or risk finding Trump’s lawyers in contempt of court.
businessinsider
