Rick Scott doubles down on attacks against Judge Merchan’s daughter

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) continued his attack on Sunday, claiming that the daughter of the judge overseeing former President Trump’s criminal case is a “political operative.”

Mr. Scott, who was in New York City on Thursday to assist Mr. Trump in his criminal case, was charged with a 34-year felony count of falsifying business records related to his attempt to cover up a past extramarital affair before the 2016 election. He is charged with more than one crime.

Outside the courthouse, Scott attacked Judge Juan Marchan’s daughter, claiming she was a Democratic Party operative and that her activities had undermined the judge’s impartiality. Mr. Trump had previously made similar remarks, but was reprimanded after Mr. Marchand expanded the gag order in the case.

“The judge’s daughter is a political operative and she raises money for the Democratic Party,” Scott said in New York.

In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Scott doubled down when asked why he would personally go after someone who is not involved in politics.

“Democrats are using the court system to go after their political opponents and prosecute them criminally,” Scott said. “They’re just thugs trying to stop Trump from running for president.”

“The judge’s daughter is a huge fundraiser for the Democratic Party,” he continued. “Everyone involved in this is part of the Democratic Party machine. It looks terrible.”

His daughter, Lauren Marchan, previously worked at a progressive consulting firm and was a lawyer representing Democratic groups.

President Trump’s previous attacks on Machan have been widely derided as unnecessary and too personal. A hearing on the matter later revealed that some of President Trump’s original claims were based on falsehoods spread by fake news accounts.

At the time, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) criticized the former president, saying “families should always be off limits.”

Mr. Trump’s attack was part of an attempt to get Judge Marchand to recuse himself from the case, but Judge Marchand did not do so.

The trial in the case continues this week after some of the most important witnesses in the case testified in court last week. It is unclear whether Trump himself will testify.