Representative Stefanik lodges ethics complaint against judge for Trump trial

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., submitted an ethics complaint against the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan on Tuesday, Axios reported.

“Acting Judge [Juan] Merchan is in clear violation of section 100.3(E)(1)(d)(iii) of the Rules of Judicial Conduct for the New York State Unified Court System as his family has enriched itself through anti-Trump fundraising mentioning this case directly,” Stefanik told Axios in a statement.

Stefanik called for an investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. She and other Trump supporters have urged Merchan to step down from the trial due to his daughter’s consulting work for Democrats.

Stefanik expressed concern that a Trump acquittal could benefit Democrats, including clients of Judge Merchan’s daughter. She mentioned, “If, on the other hand, [Trump] is convicted, such a verdict would provide a fundraising windfall for Democrat clients of Judge Merchan’s daughter.”

Trump is facing charges of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to his former lawyer Michael Cohen to reimburse him for payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from claiming she had a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump denies all allegations and denies the encounter took place.

Merchan declined to recuse himself last August, citing advice from the New York court system’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, according to Axios.

Stefanik has lodged five complaints against judges and prosecutors involved in cases against Trump, including with the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and the New York Bar Association.

In a separate incident last month, Stefanik filed an ethics complaint with the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility against special counsel Jack Smith, alleging he was attempting to unlawfully interfere in the 2024 presidential election by rushing to prosecute Trump in connection with the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol.

She stated, “It’s obvious to any reasonable observer that Jack Smith is trying to interfere with the 2024 election and stop the American people from electing Donald Trump.” Stefanik also mentioned that Smith’s actions seemed aimed at trying Trump before the November election.

Despite a complaint filed by Stefanik last November against the judge overseeing Trump’s civil fraud trial being dismissed, Axios noted.