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DA Bragg Opposes Trump’s Latest Recusal Request in Court

 August 4, 2024

Manhattan's District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, has firmly opposed Donald Trump's latest legal maneuver to challenge a judge's impartiality.

Alvin Bragg has rejected former President Donald Trump's third attempt to disqualify Judge Juan Merchan from a legal case, citing it as groundless, Newsmax reported.

The recent clash between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and former President Donald Trump centers on a recusal motion against Justice Juan Merchan. Trump has requested Merchan's recusal for the third time, citing alleged conflicts of interest related to the judge's daughter's professional connections.

Trump's legal team filed the latest petition just one day before Bragg's response. They highlighted that Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, has connections with Vice President Kamala Harris through her employment at Authentic Campaigns, a prominent Democratic marketing firm. This, according to Trump's attorneys, could compromise the judge's neutrality.

Trump's insistence on this point stems from previous attempts to push for Merchan's recusal. Both earlier petitions were rejected by Judge Merchan himself, who found no substantial evidence of bias in his ability to preside over the proceedings.

New Developments in Trump's Recusal Strategy

The thrust of Trump's third recusal petition echoes his April 3 motion. His attorneys pointed to the substantial funds—$12 million this year—channeled to Loren Merchan's firm from Democrats and progressive politicians. They also noted a partner of Loren who leads "White Dudes for Harris," a group that has raised millions for Harris's campaign.

In response, Bragg's office argued that the connections outlined by Trump's team do not suffice to question Judge Merchan's impartiality. They emphasized that Loren Merchan's professional activities are irrelevant to her father's judicial responsibilities.

Bragg's prosecutors have termed the recusal request "vexatious and frivolous," urging its dismissal based on the lack of new and compelling evidence.

Legal Standards and Impartiality Debates

As part of their filing, Bragg's team dismissed the grounds of Trump's petition as inadequate for a recusal. They highlighted the necessity for evidence that clearly proves a conflict of interest, which they argue is absent in this situation.

"Defendant's motion to renew is a vexatious and frivolous attempt to relitigate an issue that this Court twice addressed," the prosecutors wrote. They criticized the motion's lack of substantial new information to warrant a reconsideration of the prior decisions.

Moreover, the prosecutors contended, "No amount of overheated, hyperbolic rhetoric can cure the fatal defects in the defendant's ongoing effort to impugn the fairness of these proceedings and the impartiality of this Court. The motion for recusal should be denied for a third time."

Bragg's Firm Stance Against Renewed Motion

With the legal battle heating up, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Trump's legal team continues to argue for what they see as a necessary step towards ensuring judicial impartiality, while Bragg's team defends the integrity of the judicial process.

As the case unfolds, the focus remains on whether any new arguments can influence the judge's stance on recusal. However, as it stands, the motion appears poised for another dismissal unless groundbreaking evidence emerges.

This ongoing legal saga not only highlights the complexities of judicial impartiality but also sets a significant precedent for how such cases are contested and resolved in high-profile legal environments.

Conclusion and Recap of Key Points

In summary, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has contested Donald Trump's third recusal request against Judge Juan Merchan, deeming it unfounded. Trump's legal team focuses on alleged conflicts due to the judge's daughter's professional ties with Democratic figures.

Despite repeated attempts, Trump's team has presented no new evidence that substantially alters the case's circumstances. Bragg's team argues that the motion lacks the requisite validity to affect the ongoing legal proceedings and calls for its dismissal to uphold the court's integrity.