The New York Judge overseeing Trump’s case in Manhattan may soon be under investigation for violating New York’s judicial Code of Conduct.
Per FEC records Judge Merchan donated to both the Biden campaign and the Democrat PAC ActBlue.
Merchan’s donations however do violate New York’s Judicial Codw which states judges cannot “directly or indirectly engage in any political activity. Prohibited political activity including soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate.”
Recusal forthcoming? https://t.co/qbdZBv0McS
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) April 7, 2023
Here’s what Breitbart reported:
Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing former President Donald Trump’s case in Manhattan, violated New York’s Code of Judicial Conduct by making three donations to Democrats in 2020, which could be grounds for an ethics investigation, according to several legal experts and former prosecutors.
Under Section 100.5 of the New York Code of Judicial Conduct, sitting judges cannot “directly or indirectly engage in any political activity.” Prohibited political activity includes “(h) soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate.”
The New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics’s yearly-updated handbook makes this clear, stating:
A sitting judge may not make political contributions at any time, even to a U.S. presidential candidate or to a federal congressional candidate outside of New York State (Opinion 11-146; 22 NYCRR 100.5[A][1][h]).
Furthermore, the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct states that unless permitted by law, a judge shall not “solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organization or a candidate for public office.”
However, Merchan — a New York state judge — made three political donations in 2020, according to public Federal Election Commission records.
According to the FEC records, Merchan donated $15.00 to Biden for President — the campaign of Trump’s opponent, on July 26, 2020, via ActBlue.
Judge Juan Merchan’s Donations to Democrats Could Be Grounds for Ethics Investigation https://t.co/xgGOxaFGvJ
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) April 7, 2023
Per Conservative Brief:
The New York judge overseeing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against former President Donald Trump could himself face an ethics complaint and investigation for his own past actions.
Several legal experts and former prosecutors believe that Judge Juan Merchan may have violated New York’s Code of Judicial Conduct by making three donations to Democrats in 2020, adding that could be grounds for an ethics investigation, according to Breitbart News.
Per Section 100.5 of the New York Code of Judicial Conduct, sitting judges cannot “directly or indirectly engage in any political activity.” Among the prohibited political activity: “(h) soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate.”
The New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics’s yearly-updated handbook points this out clearly: “A sitting judge may not make political contributions at any time, even to a U.S. presidential candidate or to a federal congressional candidate outside of New York State (Opinion 11-146; 22 NYCRR 100.5[A][1][h]).”
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