Former President Donald J. Trump is facing criminal charges in Manhattan related to falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. He has indicated that he plans to file a lawsuit against the judge overseeing his case, Justice Juan M. Merchan, in an attempt to delay the trial. The lawsuit was not immediately made public, but court records showed that Mr. Trump was taking action against the judge, challenging a recent gag order that prevents him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, and the judge’s family. However, legal experts believe that this move is unlikely to be successful, especially so close to the trial date.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers are planning to file an action with an appeals court to request a delay in the trial and challenge the gag order. They also intend to ask the court to move the trial outside Manhattan, citing the former president’s unpopularity in the borough. This latest effort to stop the trial is part of a series of attempts by Mr. Trump’s legal team to delay all of his criminal cases until after the upcoming election. If he were to win the election, the cases would likely be put on hold.
In addition to the lawsuit against the judge, Mr. Trump has requested that Justice Merchan recuse himself from the case, alleging a conflict of interest due to the judge’s daughter working for a Democratic consulting firm that supported President Biden’s campaign. However, prosecutors have argued that this request is based on unfounded claims and innuendos. The judge is expected to rule on the recusal request in the coming days, having rejected a similar request from Mr. Trump in the past.
Lawsuits against judges are uncommon, but this is not the first time Mr. Trump has used this tactic to try to delay legal proceedings. Last year, he sued the judge presiding over his civil fraud trial in New York, though the appeals court ultimately rejected his case. The former president’s legal strategies continue to draw attention as he faces multiple legal challenges in the wake of his presidency.
