According to a report by the New York Times on Monday, Donald Trump was prepared to sue the judge overseeing his New York hush-money case, just a week before the trial was set to begin. This move is seen as yet another attempt by the former president to delay legal proceedings against him.
The report, citing court records and unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter, indicates that Trump’s aim was to challenge a gag order imposed by the judge and delay the trial. However, the Times suggests that Trump’s move, described as an “unorthodox appeal in the form of a lawsuit,” is unlikely to succeed, especially given its timing so close to the trial date.
Trump is facing 34 criminal charges related to hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who alleged an affair with him. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges and has repeatedly criticized the judge in the case, Juan Merchan, and members of his family, alleging political bias.
The trial is scheduled to take place in Manhattan, Trump’s home borough before his post-presidency move to Florida, and will be the first criminal trial involving a former US president. Trump is expected to ask an appeals court to move the trial out of Manhattan, but this move is also deemed unlikely to succeed.
Harry Litman, a former US attorney turned law professor, commented on Trump’s latest move, likening it to a previous attempt in Palm Beach, Florida, and suggesting that it won’t succeed. Litman highlighted the significance of a criminal defendant being able to personally sue a judge, indicating the unlikelihood of such a maneuver being successful.
Apart from the New York hush-money case, Trump faces 54 other criminal charges, including 40 in Florida related to classified information and 14 in connection with his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. He also faces civil cases in New York, including one concerning tax fraud and another related to defamation arising from a rape allegation.
