The Daily Fuckup

Donald Trump’s lawyers filed a recusal motion on May 31, 2023, asking New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to remove himself from the criminal case over hush-money payments and falsified business records. The defense said Merchan’s daughter, who worked as president and chief operating officer of Authentic Campaigns, a political consulting and digital marketing firm, created at least the appearance of a conflict.

The filing also pointed to prior rulings and campaign-related donations as reasons Merchan should step aside. It was another attempt to knock the judge off a case that was already headed toward prolonged pretrial fight.

Merchan did not rule on the request that day. He later denied the motion in a written decision dated August 11, 2023, saying the defense had not shown a concrete basis for recusal. He rejected the argument that his daughter’s job, along with the other complaints the defense raised, required him to leave the case.