Trump faces stubborn judge in New York

Judge Juan Merchan has, for the third time, refused to recuse himself from Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York, one of the major court cases involving the former president. Trump, despite his recent allegations accusing the judge of having ties to Kamala Harris, his political rival, failed to secure his recusal.

In his most recent decision, Judge Merchan once again rejected Donald Trump’s arguments, calling them “old, unfounded allegations”.

Judge Merchan stated that the lawyer had merely repeated arguments that have been rejected by the Court and other courts. The judge also mentioned that the defense was resorting to previously refuted allegations.

Merchan was also particularly critical of Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, and his colleagues, stressing the importance of professionalism.

Trump, through his lawyers, argued that there was a conflict of interest involving the judge since Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential candidate and Trump’s rival, as well as Merchan’s daughter, were both involved in political campaigns.

The prosecutor of record, Alvin Bragg, and Judge Merchan both found this argument frivolous and asserts that Trump had not identified any new facts or change in the law justifying a different result.

Trump attempts to escape his sentencing set for September 18, following his conviction by a jury on May 30 on 34 counts of first-degree falsification of business records.

Trump retains a glimmer of hope, however, following a recent Supreme Court ruling granting broad immunity to presidents.

Judge Merchan had then yet to rule on a defense request seeking to set aside Trump’s guilty verdicts in the case, but one thing was already certain: Donald Trump found his match in New York.