Judge Merchan Declines 3rd Request for Recusal

Donald Trump gave it one more shot, but it did not work.

With Trump’s sentencing hearing now only a month away, Trump was hoping to throw a wrench into the system by having Judge Juan Merchan recuse himself from the case.

Unfortunately, the motion was met with a denial, again.

I’m Staying

For those of you who do not know, Merchan’s daughter, Loren, works for a company called Authentic Campaigns.

The company works with many high-profile Democrats and has been fundraising off this case.

In fact, her company's sales have increased by 86% this year, partly due to the fundraising Loren has been doing around the hush-money case.

Since Merchan is refusing to step down from the case, Trump is now hoping to move the sentencing back from September 18 until after the election.

In his argument, Trump attorney Todd Blanche wrote, "The Court should adjourn any sentencing in this case, though one should not be necessary because dismissal and vacatur of the jury’s verdicts are required based on Presidential immunity, until after the 2024 Presidential election.”

Blanche added Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz "wrongly referred to this case in a public speech."

Blanche continued, "Sentencing is currently scheduled to occur after the commencement of early voting in the Presidential election.

"By adjourning sentencing until after the election — which is of paramount importance to the entire nation, including tens of millions of people who do not share the views of Authentic, its executives, and its clients — the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings."

He concluded, "Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the Court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar. There is no basis for continuing to rush.

"Accordingly, we respectfully request that any sentencing, if one is needed, be adjourned until after the Presidential election."

This is a very big ruling for Trump because having this pushed back would prevent a very negative news cycle that could otherwise bury his campaign.

We should have a decision one way or another in the next week or so.