Former President Trump and his legal team have filed a motion asking Judge Juan Melchan to recuse himself from the hush money case, citing his daughter’s Democratic political activities and alleged “hostility” toward potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates. submitted.
In a 37-page motion filed Friday afternoon, Mr. Trump’s lawyers said that Mr. Marchand’s daughter, Lauren Marchand, “has no direct direct access to these lawsuits due to his ownership and leadership role in Authentic Campaigns.” They have a financial interest.”
Trump’s lawyers said the company “serves only Democratic clients” and is “the 21st ranked vendor in the country related to the 2024 election.”
Marchand is presiding over a case stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into hush-money payments before the 2016 election.
New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating former President Donald Trump for allegedly paying hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. (Shane Bevell/NCAA Photo via Getty Images/Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“In 2019, Mr. Marchand made public statements on a podcast about his conversations with Mr. Excellency that reflected the biases of both speakers toward President Trump in those interactions,” Trump’s lawyers said Friday. Ta. “Consistent with that conversation, President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as many other politicians and organizations currently actively campaigning against and defending President Trump, announced that Mr. Authentic and Mr. I am a long-term customer of Mr.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers also said that at least six of Mr. Authentic’s clients were involved in “fundraising efforts that referred to the case before or after the indictment, President Trump’s arraignment, or after the court denied President Trump’s motion to dismiss.” He also used solicitation.”
“Authentic’s clients have paid Authentic more than $18 million to date since the return of the indictment,” Trump’s lawyers wrote. “It is industry practice for Authentic to receive a percentage based on the funds raised and the recipient’s involvement, and while this litigation was pending, Mr. Merchan held ownership and leadership roles in the company. .”
Mr. Trump’s lawyers also argued that the judge was hostile to Mr. Trump and criticized his efforts to impose a gag order against the potential Republican nominee.
“Your Excellency also recently issued and expanded a gag order that unreasonably restricted President Trump’s constitutionally protected campaign speeches. This has the effect of shielding the court and Mr. Marchand from legitimate public criticism. .Based on the evidence discussed in this motion and relevant to the court’s “2024 election,” Trump lawyers wrote.
President Trump’s lawyers said, “For the reasons set forth above, President Trump respectfully submits that the court must recuse himself as a matter of constitutional due process and Section 14 of the Judiciary Act. “It is appropriate even considering the possibility of such conduct.”
The trial is scheduled to begin April 15 in New York City with jury selection.
President Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of first-degree falsification of business records.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
