Former President Donald Trump has called for an appeals court to “take over” his New York trial, where he is accused of falsifying business records related to the alleged suppression of negative allegations during the 2016 campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges, which stem from the so-called “hush-money” trial involving payments to silence potentially damaging information during his presidential campaign.
The former president criticized Justice Juan Merchan, the presiding judge in the case, suggesting that he is biased and works for the Democratic Party. Trump expressed these views on Truth Social, saying that the judge should be removed and the appeals court should intervene. He claims that the charges, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, are politically motivated.
“We have a Rigged Judge, who is working for the Democrat Party and refuses to terminate this ‘case,’ which should have never been brought by Soft on Crime Alvin Bragg,” President Trump wrote early on Wednesday morning via Truth Social in one of many calls for Justice Juan Merchan to step down. “Judge Merchan should immediately [be] removed, and the Appellate Courts have to take over.”
The trial’s first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, recently testified. During his speech to construction workers earlier this week, Trump referenced his case, arguing that his charges are exaggerated. He dismissed the allegations by stating that he is facing legal issues due to a bookkeeper labeling legal fees as “legal expenses” in a ledger.
Meanwhile, Judge Merchan has imposed a gag order to prevent Trump from criticizing witnesses and court officials. Despite this order, Trump’s lawyers argue that his social media posts respond to political attacks, particularly from his former attorney Michael Cohen and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, both expected to testify against him. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records for labeling payments to Cohen as legal fees. Cohen claims these payments were reimbursement for his $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.
