Former President Donald Trump has demanded the federal judge hearing his 2020 election subversion case in Washington, D.C. recuse herself over the statements she made while sentencing two previous defendants in the case.
Trump’s attorneys wrote in court filings that these statements by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, which were apparently in reference to Trump, may mean she had established Trump’s guilt even before the former president was charged. “Judge Chutkan has, in connection with other cases, suggested that President Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned,” they stated.
They added that the remarks were made before this case started and were “inherently disqualifying.” “Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial — and may believe that she can do so — her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome,” they said.
This is not the first time Trump has called out the judges on his criminal cases. The judge who was overseeing his hush money criminal case in New York was also accused of bias by Trump. The former president has often used his social media platform, Truth Social, to attack Chutkan and other judges.
He had argued that Judge Juan Merchan should recuse himself over his daughter’s political consulting work she did for President Joe Biden‘s campaign in 2020 and later for Vice President Kamala Harris‘ campaign. The judge had denied his request.
Trump is currently facing four criminal counts in the case that originated from his alleged attempts to keep himself in power after the 2020 elections that he had lost. Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty.
