Complaint against judge in Trump hush money trial dismissed after Justice Juan Merchan donated to Biden’s 2020 campaign
AN ethics complaint against the judge at the center of Donald Trump’s hush money payment trial has been dismissed.
Juan Merchan, a New York Supreme Court Justice, donated $15 toward Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and contributed to a Stop Republicans group.
ReutersAn ethics complaint against Justice Juan Merchan has been dismissed[/caption]
ReutersTrump is on trial over allegations he falsified business records[/caption]
Investigators launched a probe after receiving a tip about the judge’s political donations.
“Justice Merchan said the complaint, from more than a year ago, was dismissed in July with a caution,” spokesperson Al Baker of the state Office of Court Administration told Reuters this week.
Merchan made a $35 donation to the Democratic organization Act Blue.
Of that, $15 went to the Biden for president campaign group.
Smaller donations went to the Stop Republicans movement and the Progressive Turnout Project.
It’s not known who filed the complaint against Merchan.
Trump lashed out at Merchan in a Truth Social post on Friday.
He claimed Merchan is a highly conflicted judge.
Trump also alleged that the judge is a threat to democracy.
The U.S. Sun has approached the New York Office of Public Affairs for comment.
Merchan is in the spotlight as he presides over Trump’s trial in New York.
Trump has been accused of falsifying business records in a bid to cover up a hush money payment to the porn star Stormy Daniels.
Trump strongly denies the charges that have been leveled against him.
But he could face up to four years in prison if convicted.
It’s possible that the trial could be wrapped up in the coming weeks – months before Americans head to the polls in the general election.
Donald Trump's legal battles
Donald Trump is the first former president to be charged with state or federal crimes. He has been indicted four times and faces a slew of charges. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is juggling dates in court with rallies on the campaign trail. The U.S. Sun breaks down the former president's current legal battles.
New York Business Records
Trump stands accused of falsifying business records allegedly connected to $130,000 of hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The payment, which was executed by Trump’s ex-attorney Michael Cohen, ensured an embarrassing story wasn’t published in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.
Trump could face up to four years in prison if convicted.
Trump can only be pardoned by the governor of New York if he is convicted.
The trial began on April 15 and is expected to last through May.
Federal Classified Documents
Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents after he left office and storing them at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
He has also been accused of obstructing federal agents as they tried to reclaim the documents.
Trump is further alleged to have shown the trove of files to people who were not supposed to see them.
Trump faces a slew of charges, including allegations he violated the Espionage Act.
Trump is also accused of engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
He could face 100 years in prison if convicted.
The case is not expected to go to trial before the November election.
If Trump wins, he could either pardon himself or order the Department of Justice to drop the charges because the case was brought at the federal level.
Federal Election Subversion
In August 2023, the Department of Justice indicted Trump over the events linked to the January 6 insurrection and organizing false slates of electors.
Trump has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights, and obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.
If convicted, Trump could get a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison.
A trial date has not yet been decided, but the case is unlikely to go to trial before the November election.
The Supreme Court is considering arguments surrounding whether Trump is immune from prosecution for some or all actions while in the White House.
Georgia Election Interference:
Trump and 18 others have been accused of attempting to alter the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia by pressuring local officials and election workers.
The district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, which includes Atlanta, indicted Trump on racketeering charges in August 2023.
He turned himself into a Georgia jail and had his mugshot taken.
A trial is not expected to take place before the November election.
Trump cannot pardon himself if he’s convicted because the charges were brought at the state level.
In Georgia, only a board that is appointed by the governor can approve pardons.
Americans are reportedly forking out hundreds of dollars to secure a seat inside the Manhattan courtroom.
Trump found himself in hot water with Merchan after the judge ruled that he violated a gag order several times.
The brash tycoon was fined $10,000 in total for the breaches.
Merchan warned the bombastic presidential candidate that he could end up being sent to jail if he continued to violate the order.
The judge said jailing Trump is the last thing he would want to do, but warned he has to protect the dignity of the justice system.
The trial has seen both Daniels and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen take to the stand.
Cohen admitted he paid Daniels $130,000 so she would keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump.
Trump strongly denies the affair allegations.
But the former president looked uncomfortable as Daniels opened up on how she met Trump in 2006.
Cohen was interrogated by the prosecution before he was then quizzed by Trump’s defense team.
Key witness Cohen was quizzed on comments he made before the start of the trial.
It is just one of four criminal cases that Trump has against him.
Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, has been indicted on three other occasions.
He is accused of mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, resort.
Trump has also been indicted relating to the January 6, 2021, insurrection and allegedly trying to overturn the election results in Georgia.
Trump is juggling the indictments with campaign rallies as the race for the White House heats up.
He and Joe Biden are set to face off in a debate next month.
Another showdown has been proposed for September.
Trump claimed that Biden is the worst debater he’s ever faced.
“He can’t put two sentences together!” he blasted.
Trump described Biden as crooked and labeled him the worst president in US history.
GettyTrump and Biden are set to debate in the run-up to November’s election[/caption]
What are Trump and Biden's platforms?
A look at what issues matter most to the candidates.
Biden’s talking points:
The importance of democracy after the January 6 attack on the Capitol
Advocate for abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with a 6-3 judgment in 2022
His Build Back Better plan, the $2.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill introduced in 2021
Support for Ukraine and Israel while they are at war
Highlight the strong US economy and low unemployment rates during his presidency
Trump’s talking points:
Slam issues at the US-Mexico border, which was a critical talking point for his 2016 win
Criticize the slew of criminal and civil lawsuits filed against him
Applaud the Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Discuss a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, although he hasn’t said which country he wants to win
Advocate for parents’ rights to regulate and restrict discussion of gender, sexuality, and race in schools
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