A New York judge on Wednesday denied former President Donald Trump‘s third attempt to have him removed from the case involving Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records. The judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, dismissed the motion as “nothing more than an attempt to air grievances,” solidifying his role in the high-profile case ahead of Trump’s sentencing.
Motion Dismissed as Repetitive and Unsubstantiated
Justice Merchan ruled that Trump had missed the deadline for post-trial motions and merely reiterated previous arguments that had already been rejected. Trump claimed that a gag order preventing him from publicly criticizing court officials and the district attorney’s staff was “unjust and unconstitutional,” despite this order being upheld by appellate courts.
“Stated plainly, defendant’s arguments are nothing more than a repetition of stale and unsubstantiated claims,” Justice Merchan stated in his order, which was dated Tuesday.
Trump’s Recusal Bid Rejection : Background on the Case and Sentencing
Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments. Throughout the trial, Trump maintained his innocence, calling the proceedings biased and vowing to appeal. He has also filed a motion to overturn the conviction on the grounds of presidential immunity, a decision on which is expected just days before his sentencing on September 18.
