New York judicial commission dismisses ethics complaint against Justice Merchan over political donations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has dismissed an ethics complaint against Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the hush money criminal case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a spokesperson for the judge.
“Justice Merchan said the complaint, from more than a year ago, was dismissed in July with a caution,” stated Al Baker of the state Office of Court Administration in response to a Reuters inquiry. Under commission rules, a caution may be taken into consideration in the event of any future misconduct.
The complaint stemmed from 2020 donations, including $35 to the Democratic group ActBlue, with $15 earmarked for Biden for President and $10 each to Progressive Turnout Project and Stop Republicans. The Federal Election Commission records these donations. Reuters could not determine who made the complaint.
Trump, seeking to reclaim the White House in a Nov. 5 election against Democratic President Joe Biden, has sought to disqualify Merchan from the hush money case. Trump and his lawyers argue that the judge is conflicted due to his daughter’s work as a political consultant for Democrats and have questioned the political contributions.
In its 2024 annual report, the Commission on Judicial Conduct noted that contributions violate the rules on prohibited political activity. The report highlighted that several dozen judges had made prohibited contributions in recent years, mostly to federal candidates, with amounts typically under $100 and sometimes as low as $5 or $10.
The commission’s investigation and its outcome had not been previously reported. A commission administrator declined to comment. The commission’s proceedings remain confidential unless public censure or other discipline is decided, or the judge chooses to make them public.
Last year, Merchan denied Trump’s initial motion for his recusal after a separate Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics determined that the modest, over two-year-old contributions could not create an impression of bias or favoritism. Trump filed another recusal motion last month, which Merchan also denied.
On trial in New York, Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleges they had a sexual encounter. Trump denies the encounter.