On Friday, August 16, 2024, Just The News reported that Mike Davis, founder and president of The Article III Project, commented on former President Donald Trump’s ongoing criminal trial in New York. Davis argued that Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trump’s case, must recuse himself due to a potential conflict of interest.
Davis pointed to a New York statute requiring judges to remove themselves from any case where someone within six degrees of separation holds a financial interest. Merchan’s daughter, Lauren, works as an executive at a digital agency that has contracted with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As Trump is expected to run against Biden and Harris again in 2024, Davis asserted this relationship constitutes a conflict.
When Trump’s legal team raised the issue of Lauren Merchan’s work, Davis said Judge Merchan reacted inappropriately. Rather than recusing as required, Merchan allegedly threatened to imprison Trump if he mentioned Lauren’s name going forward. Davis described this behavior as corrupt and a violation of recusal standards.
Davis further argued that Judge Merchan wants to sentence Trump in order to aid Vice President Harris’ potential presidential campaign. If Merchan proceeds with convicting and jailing Trump, Davis stated he should expect his own criminal investigation for violating ethical guidelines. The Article III Project head strongly urged Merchan to recuse himself from the high-profile New York case against the former president.
So far, Merchan has dismissed all efforts to have him step aside, claiming no actual conflict of interest exists. However, Davis and Trump’s attorneys continue insisting Merchan’s impartiality is compromised by his daughter’s career ties to opposing political figures like Biden and Harris.
