America First Legal has filed a lawsuit against New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan for refusing to provide his financial disclosures, raising concerns about a conflict of interest due to his daughter’s work with a Democratic firm. The lawsuit also targets the New York State Unified Court System’s Ethics Commission.
Judge Merchan oversaw President Trump’s six-week trial in New York v. Trump, following a lengthy investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records, a verdict he is appealing while calling for Merchan to overturn the decision.
The AFL’s legal action follows a demand letter sent last week requesting Merchan’s financial records, which they had initially sought in June. Under New York law, judges must file annual financial disclosures that are available to the public upon request.
“The law is clear that judicial financial disclosures must be released to the public,” said AFL Vice President Dan Epstein. He added that transparency is crucial, especially given Merchan’s alleged involvement in unlawful campaign contributions and his role in the sentencing of a former president. Epstein emphasized the need to uncover whether Merchan has anything to hide or if he failed to file disclosures entirely.
The AFL’s concerns stem from Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, who serves as president of Authentic Campaigns, a firm that has worked with prominent Democratic clients such as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. AFL alleges that Loren Merchan and her clients could benefit financially from legal actions against Trump.
The lawsuit also highlights that Judge Merchan has made donations to Democratic causes, including Biden’s campaign and a group called “Stop Republicans.” In July 2023, the Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a warning to Merchan regarding these donations.
Republicans have accused Judge Merchan of political bias due to his daughter’s political work. Trump’s legal team previously requested Merchan recuse himself from the trial, but he declined. A New York state ethics panel supported Merchan’s decision in June 2023.
Recently, the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), subpoenaed Authentic Campaigns after the company refused to provide information related to Trump’s prosecution. Jordan questioned Merchan’s impartiality, citing concerns over his refusal to recuse himself and his daughter’s political connections.
Read the lawsuit here.
