Trump Accuses Judge Of Bias Before January Sentencing

As his January 10 sentencing nears, President-elect Donald Trump criticized Judge Juan M. Merchan, alleging bias in the hush-money case brought against him. Trump claimed Merchan’s handling of the case reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s weaponization of the justice system.

Merchan scheduled sentencing just days before Trump’s inauguration but signaled that he would not impose jail time. While the court noted that incarceration is authorized, Merchan emphasized it is not currently recommended by prosecutors. Trump dismissed the process as a sham, asserting the charges are politically driven.

Trump expressed his frustration online, describing the case as a fabrication. “I never falsified business records,” Trump wrote. He accused Merchan of using a gag order to prevent him from speaking out while leaving the media free to ignore the judge’s alleged conflicts of interest.

Merchan’s ruling acknowledged the limits of his discretion, explaining, “The Court’s inclination is to not impose any sentence of incarceration.” Trump argued this does not address what he sees as the illegitimacy of the charges themselves.

Trump cited testimony from his accountant, who testified that the financial records in question were accurate and appropriately labeled. He called the charges baseless, claiming every legal expert who reviewed the case found no grounds for prosecution.

Trump also referenced other legal disputes in New York, including a valuation case involving Mar-a-Lago and a defamation judgment he labeled unjust.

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