Former President Donald Trump is demanding a new judge just days before his hush-money criminal trial is set to begin, rehashing longstanding grievances with the current judge in a long-shot, eleventh-hour bid to disrupt and delay the case.

Trump Seeks New Judge in Hush-Money Trial

Background

Trump's lawyers are urging Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan to step aside from the case, alleging bias and a conflict of interest because his daughter is a Democratic political consultant. The trial is scheduled to begin April 15 and would be the first-ever criminal trial of a former president.

Key Takeaways

Despite the defense's claims, the judge has not yet ruled on the request. If he were to exit, it could throw the trial schedule into disarray, giving Trump a long-sought postponement while a new judge gets up to speed.

Trump's Allegations

Trump's recent social media complaints echoed his lawyers' claims of bias and conflict of interest. However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office sees no reason for Merchan to step aside.

Legal Challenges

The hush money case centers on allegations that Trump falsified his company’s records to hide payments to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who helped Trump bury negative stories during his 2016 campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Recent Developments

In a separate development, Merchan blocked Trump’s lawyers from forcing NBC to provide them with materials related to its recent documentary about porn actor Stormy Daniels, a key prosecution witness. Merchan ruled that the defense's subpoena was “the very definition of a fishing expedition.”

Conclusion

As the trial date approaches, the legal battle between Trump and the court continues. Trump's efforts to delay or disrupt the trial have so far been unsuccessful, but the outcome remains uncertain.