The judge who will be hearing the Trump case in Manhattan is riddled with conflicts of interest from making political contributions to the fact that his daughter worked for the Biden/Harris campaign. It is even worse than that as he has violated ethics laws that prevent him from engaging in anything political. No contributions, no endorsements, and no campaigning. According to data received by the FEC Merchan contributed to Act Blue targeting three groups, “Stop The Republicans,” “Biden For President,” and “Progressive Turnout Project.”
Even though the amounts of money were small, they are clearly an ethics violation and demonstrate a clear bias against President Trump.
The Gateway Pundit reports:
“Although the dollar amounts were what some would be considered small, this proves impartiality towards Donald Trump. Donating to both the former and future expected counterpart on the presidential ballot is a huge deal, and something that cannot go unnoticed.”
Breitbart reported:
Under Section 100.5 of the New York Code of Judicial Conduct, sitting judges cannot “directly or indirectly engage in any political activity.” Prohibited political activity includes “(h) soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate.”
The New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics’s yearly-updated handbook makes this clear, stating:
A sitting judge may not make political contributions at any time, even to a U.S. presidential candidate or to a federal congressional candidate outside of New York State (Opinion 11-146; 22 NYCRR 100.5[A][1][h]).
Furthermore, the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct states that unless permitted by law, a judge shall not “solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organization or a candidate for public office.”
Stephen Gillers, a professor of legal ethics at New York University, said that New York, like most US states, has adopted language from the American Bar Association Code of Judicial Conduct which clearly states that judges are not allowed to make political contributions.
Gillers told CNN:
“The contribution to Biden and possibly the one to ‘Stop Republicans’ would be forbidden unless there is some other explanation that would allow them.”
“Violations can lead to a warning, private discipline, public discipline and more serious sanctions like removal. Serious discipline (e.g. removal) is decided by the N.Y. Court of Appeals.”
Giller told CNN that the amount of the donation would be “viewed as trivial” and would “absolutely not” be grounds for recusal. But other legal experts disagreed per Breitbart.
Brett Tolman, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah and former counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Breitbart News that Merchan’s violation should lead to his investigation and recusal.
“This should facilitate a judicial misconduct investigation and the Judge should recuse because of such,” Tolman told Breitbart News on Wednesday.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a CNN legal analyst and former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, told CNN the donations may have created the “appearance of a conflict.”
“Judge Merchan has a reputation of being a fair down the middle judge, however, donating to a defendant’s political rival can cause the appearance of a conflict, even where there is none, and creates an unforced error, in this case involving Trump,” she said.
Tolman said the appearance of a conflict could necessitate a recusal.
“A judge has two issues to address which could necessitate a recusal. First, is to determine if there is an actual conflict and second, if not an actual conflict, the judge must determine if recusal is needed to ‘avoid the appearance of a conflict,’” he said, adding, “I believe under either analysis, Judge Merchan should recuse himself. He has direct conflict by making financial investment in the direct opponent of Trump, an announced candidate for President. Secondly, the appearance of conflict looms large in this case given the donations, prior cases against Trump, and his daughter’s conflicts.”
15 Responses
WHY DOES AMERICA BELIEVE JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SERVED??? SIMPLY SAID, AMERICA BELIEVES THE DEMOCRAPS LED BY #JOEBAMA ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND THEY HAVE CREATED EVERY CRISIS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE ANE WILL NOT LET IT GO TO WASTE……….
If it’s a Demonrat it’s crooked.
If you see a crook, you know that he/she is a Democrat!
Nothing will happen to force this judge into recusal. He is a Democrat. We have a two-tiered justice system in the US. This is so OBVIOUS that it should even be included in Bar exam questions: “What action permits citizens and people who cross the Southern border illegally to be excused from most crimes.”
Answer: declare you are a Democrat
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Democrat Judges are not American,they are Communists and filled of hate i.e.evil
I agree the size of contribution is not important to the intent conveyed.
And the letter of the law overrides.
Recuse yourself.
This “Judge’s” actions are not a question of “could be a crime”, they ‘ARE A CRIME” Period, He has broken the LAW, the amount of the “donation” is irrelevant, If someone robs a bank, he is NOT prosecuted by the amount he got away with, he is Prosecuted for committing the CRIME, the BIG Question is “WHY IS THIS “JUDGE” still a “JUDGE” !!!!! He MUST be Prosecuted Immediately !!!!!! Liberal Judges are NOT ABOVE THE LAW !!!!! Also, EVERY case that this CRIMINAL has adjudicated since he committed the Crime should be considered NULL AND VOID !!!!! YOU Liberals WON”T WORM out of THIS one !!!!! NOW, lets talk about this CROOKED Liberal D.A. and that exculpatory evidence that he seems to have intentionally held out !!!!
As usual, this law does not pertain to a socialist liberal dem.
Fire the Judge , cancel case
Is there any doubt? The Judge should step down or be disbarred.
Solution: Since “INDEPENDENT” lol “JUDGES” are LEGISLATING from the bench,, we need to take judges OFF the “NON PARTISAN” part of the ballot! Judges are SUPPOSED to FOLLOW the LAW, NOT make law! We need to know their political affiliation. Let’s put them on the PARTISAN part of the ballot from now on. That will give us more information than their political leanings instead of what they “say” in their ads.
OOPS: “That will give us more information **than** their political…”. Should have said “OF”.
There was an old Saying in Chicago that included Judges that goes like this: Never Met a Judge, Politician, Lawyer or Cop that Could Not be Bought! Judge Shopping appears to be common in most Democrat Run Governments? Follow the Money!
Apply to Dems since the 80s for donations issues
Everything they do should require an ethics investigation. It’s not a political party anymore but rather an organized crime organization.