(UnitedVoice.com) – Judge Juan Merchan oversaw former President Donald Trump’s criminal case earlier this year in New York. He was later found guilty of 34 felonies. Merchan was originally set to preside over Steve Bannon’s upcoming case but has now been removed.
In June, Ellen Biben, the administrative judge who oversees the New York County Supreme Court Criminal Term, wrote an email announcing that Merchan was no longer assigned to the former White House strategist’s trial. She explained that he is set to preside over a six-defendant trial beginning on September 16. That trial will last three months, leaving Merchan no time to preside over Bannon’s case.
Bannon is currently in prison, serving his sentence for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena. Trump’s former chief strategist turned himself in on July 1. New York indicted him in 2022 on six charges, including conspiracy and money laundering, for his role in the “We Build the Wall Campaign.”
Bannon was initially charged in federal court in 2020 for launching a fundraiser to raise money to build a wall on the southwest border. The former federal official and several others raised $25 million but only built three miles of fence. They were accused of using the money to pay for other things. Before Trump left office, he issued a pardon for Bannon. New York decided to circumvent the Constitution’s Double Jeopardy protections and charge him in state court.
The others who were charged in the federal case — Andrew Badolato, Brian Kolfage, and Timothy Shea — were later convicted and sentenced to prison.
Trump has repeatedly accused Merchan of being biased. The judge’s daughter is a Democratic donor who has ties to Hillary Clinton. Merchan issued a gag order against Trump when he pointed out the family’s ties to the left.
Biben transferred the case to Judge April Newbauer. The trial is set to begin on September 23.
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