Former President Donald Trump strongly rebuked Judge Juan Merchan on Friday for denying his attempt to dismiss a criminal case charging him with payments of alleged hush money and setting a January 10 date for sentencing just days before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
In an order issued Friday, Merchan said he intended to grant the unconditional discharge a rare judicial sentence that does not bind Trump but still characterizes him as a convicted felon unless the man and his attorney can persuade him otherwise. On Saturday, the former president condemned the judge of “breaking the law” in a statement distributed by his representative, Steve Cheung, referring to Merchan as “deeply conflicted and corrupt”.
On Truth Social, Trump repeated his assertions, labelling the case part of a broader “lawfare” campaign against him. He described the proceedings as an “illegitimate political attack” and a “rigged charade,” calling for the legal actions against him to cease so that the nation could “come together” and “Make America Great Again.
The case is led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is accusing Trump of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment made during the 2016 presidential campaign to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors argue that the payment was done to silence Daniels over an alleged affair with Trump. Trump allegedly directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to wire the funds and later reimbursed him as legal fees.
In May 2023, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 felony counts pertaining to the scheme. Trump has repeatedly denied the charges, branding the prosecution a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
