House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik last week filed an ethics complaint against New York Judge Juan Merchan calling for his recusal from Donald Trump’s hush money trial over allegations that his daughter is leveraging the trial for financial gain.
In a complaint submitted to the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct on May 21, Stefanik alleged that Loren Merchan’s digital marketing and fundraising firm Authentic Campaigns was working with multiple Democrat candidates who have been fundraising off of Donald Trump’s hush money trial.
Stefanik cited a fundraising email from Democrat Senate candidate Adam Schiff, a client of Authentic Campaigns, in which the California congressman used Trump’s hush money case to raise money for his campaign.
Stefanik also cited another Authentic Campaigns client, the Senate Majority PAC, which also sent out similar fundraising emails citing Trump’s trial.
According to Stefanik’s complaint, since the emails were sent out, Schiff raised $20 million while the Senate Majority PAC raised $73.6 million. She argued that Merchan’s clients used the case her father is hearing to rake in almost $100 million, enabling them to pay Loren Merchan handsomely for her services.
The New York Republican Rep. argued that Judge Merchan was required to recuse himself from the case under New York’s Rules of Judicial Conduct which states that a judge is disqualified if he or someone close to him “has an interest that could be substantially affected by the proceeding.”
Stefanik last year filed an ethics complaint against Judge Arthur Engoron who presided over Trump’s civil fraud trial, accusing him of having “clear judicial bias” and calling for his recusal from the case.
Stefanik also filed an ethics complaint against special counsel Jack Smith earlier this month, accusing him of “unlawfully” interfering with the presidential election by attempting to prevent voters from electing Donald Trump.
Stefanik’s ethics complaint against Judge Merchan comes as the case is wrapping up, far too late for any recusal.