(USNewsBreak.com) – Former President Donald Trump is facing a lot of legal woes. He’s been indicted on 91 charges in four different cases, two state and two federal. In a court filing on September 11, his attorneys asked one of the judges to recuse herself after they claimed she made disparaging remarks against Trump. She has now ruled on their motion.
In the recent filing, Trump’s lawyers argued that US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, should recuse herself because she “suggested that President Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned” following the events of January 6, 2021. They said the comments she made would “unavoidably taint these proceedings” and are “inherently disqualifying.” Additionally, the filing said her statements will cast public scrutiny on whether or not she can remain unbiased.
BREAKING: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan says she won’t recuse herself from Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case in Washington, rejecting the former president’s claims that her past comments raise doubts about whether she can be fair. https://t.co/BY5MJBUm5X
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 27, 2023
On Wednesday, September 27, Judge Chutkan issued a 20-page decision stating that she would not recuse herself from the case. She remained firm that her statements did not “manifest a deep-seated prejudice” and that there was no proper cause to step down. Special Counsel Jack Smith agreed, having earlier filed a motion stating that there was “no valid basis” for the move.
Trump can certainly escalate the matter to an appeals court or take it all the way to the Supreme Court, but the burden of proof could hinder his success. Standards mandate that the request for the higher courts to hear a case involving the removal of a judge must come with “clear and indisputable” proof that Chutkan would fail to do her duty.
This is not the first time Trump has tried — unsuccessfully — to have a judge recuse themselves. He made the same move with Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the hush money case in New York.
Trump is scheduled to go to trial in the January 6 insurrection case on March 4, 2024.
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