Donald Trump's lawyers are again asking Judge Juan Machan to recuse him from the former president's hush money trial in New York, seven months after the judge rejected a similar request by his team. There is.
Defense attorneys filed a letter Monday alleging that Marchand's daughter's work at digital consulting firm Authentic Campaigns generates “ongoing financial benefits” related to the former president's criminal case. did.
“In the circumstances, His Royal Highness has an interest in this case that justifies its dismissal, there is an unacceptable risk that the court's family relationships will influence its judicial conduct, and the court's impartiality is compromised. Naturally, questions may arise,''' defense attorney Todd Blanche wrote. I am seeking permission to file a motion in support of rescission.
Prosecutors with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said in a Tuesday filing that Marchand's defense request to dismiss contains factual errors and provides no new information and should be dismissed immediately. he claimed.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said: “There are no new facts that would alter this court's previous conclusion that this proceeding provides no direct benefit to this court, nor to Authentic or our family.'' Nothing,” he said.
Mr. Trump's lawyers last year questioned Mr. Marchand's $35 political contribution to Democrats in 2020 (including a $15 donation to Joe Biden) and his role in overseeing the Trump Organization trial in 2022. Based on this, similar efforts were made to get Mr. Marchan to withdraw from the lawsuit. and his daughter's work as a political consultant.
Machan refused to recuse himself in his August 2023 ruling, writing, “This court has considered its conscience and is confident in its ability to be fair and impartial.”
“Defendants have not been able to demonstrate that there are any concrete or real reasons why a recusal is appropriate, much less required on those grounds. The scenario falls far short of legal standards,” Marchand said of the allegations. In connection with his daughter's work.
Mr. Marchan relied on a May 2023 opinion issued by the New York State Judicial Ethics Advisory Commission, which stated that based on his daughter's research, his “impartiality could reasonably be questioned.” I decided that I couldn't do that.''
The committee found that “the investigation finds nothing to suggest that the outcome of the case could affect the judge's relatives, the relative's business, or the judge's interests.”
Trump's lawyers argued in a letter Monday that the circumstances of the case have changed since Marchand's August 2023 decision not to resign.
“The scenario identified by the defense has now become reality. President Trump is the presumptive Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election,” the filing says, before highlighting Marchand's daughter's role as a political consultant. Stated.
Lauren Marchan is a partner at Authentic Campaigns and has worked with numerous Democratic clients on digital advertising, fundraising list acquisition and other digital consulting, according to records reviewed by ABC News. The firm's past and current clients include President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential campaign, pro-Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC (SMP), and Adam Schiff. Includes current Senate and past House election campaigns for members of the House of Representatives.
Authentic Campaigns has been paid nearly $12 million so far in the 2023/2024 election cycle. The company was paid $1.7 million by SMP last year, and $2.1 million and $7.6 million, respectively, from the Biden and Harris campaigns during the 2020 election, according to FEC disclosure reports.
”[There] This is strong evidence that Authentic took advantage of this incident to make money. These benefits and continued financial benefits cannot be ignored,” Blanche argued, adding that Marchand's daughter “will continue to earn money” as the development of Trump's criminal trial creates “fundraising material.” ' he suggested.
In a response filed Tuesday, prosecutors disputed the defense's claims about a financial conflict between Mr. Marchand and his daughter, saying, “There is no direct connection between Mr. Authentic and this case. There are multiple de facto minor leaps that undermine it.”
“This string of innuendos falls far short of evidence that this court has a 'direct, personal, material, or financial interest in reaching a particular conclusion,'” the filing states. It is being
Trump was indicted last April on a 34-count indictment accusing him of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to Daniels by his then-lawyer Michael Cohen days before the 2016 presidential election. pled not guilty to. The former president has denied all wrongdoing.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin April 15 in New York City.
ABC News' Surin Kim contributed to this report.
