Judge Merchan's daughter was cleared by ethics board before Trump complained: legal expert

Donald Trump filed a motion for Judge Juan Merchan to recuse himself from the trial last year, but it was only after the judge requested a ruling about the matter from an ethics board.

MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin pointed to the timeline of the motion, explaining that on May 4, 2023, the New York State Judicial Ethics Advisory Board reviewed Merchan for possible conflicts and determined there were none.

"We see nothing in the inquiry to suggest that the outcome of the case could have any effect on the judge's relative, the relative's business, or any of their interests," the committee found, an ABC News report quoted.

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"There is simply nothing new here that would alter this Court's prior conclusion that nothing about this proceeding will directly benefit Authentic or this Court's family member, let alone this Court," wrote prosecutor Matthew Colangelo when responding to Trump's motion.

Trump has flooded the court with motions to dismiss or recuse as the date of the trial draws closer.

Trump released his 37-page motion to dismiss, but just last month, Merchan demanded that both sides need his permission before filing any further pre-trial motions, Rubin explained. It appears Trump's lawyers has violated that demand.

Meanwhile, she said, Trump's lawyers also "needlessly mention the names of other employees of Merchan's daughter's firm." This could potentially risk threats of violence to various connected individuals.

"Trump's justification for a second recusal motion, after his first motion was denied last August, is that there are both changed circumstances and newly discovered evidence," Rubin noted.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in just ten days on April 15.

This isn't the first time that Trump has attempted to use Merchan's family to delay his trial or remove the judge. In April 2023, Trump attacked the judge's wife as well.