The Democrat judge who presided over President Donald Trump’s “hush money” case in New York has been removed from Steve Bannon’s case, according to reports.
Judge Juan Merchan, a Biden donor with Democrat ties, was scheduled to oversee the New York criminal trial of Bannon, a former Trump White House advisor.
The case related to a “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign that Bannon was linked to, as The Washington Examiner reported.
However, Merchan is no longer involved in the case.
Merchan’s removal was revealed in a statement issued by Judge Ellen Biben.
Biben stated that the reason for his departure was “schedule conflicts.”
“Merchan … who is assigned to this matter, is engaged to preside over a six-defendant trial that is scheduled to commence on 09/16/24 and expected to last at least three months,” she wrote.
The trial, a top Trump ally, is set to begin on Sept. 23.
Judge April Newbauer will oversee Bannon’s case.
Newbauer will “follow up with the parties to schedule a status conference and for any further communication,” according to the statement’s last paragraph.
On July 23, Bannon is scheduled to make an appearance in front of her for the case.
Bannon has entered not-guilty pleas on multiple counts of criminal offenses, including those involving his alleged fundraising effort deceiving contributors into parting with their money, conspiracy, and fraud.
In 2022, Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the Democrats’ anti-Trump House committee “investigating” Jan. 6.
Bannon will serve a four-month sentence in a Connecticut prison beginning on July 1.
He recently asked the Supreme Court to postpone his sentencing.
However, Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is urging the court to deny Bannon’s request.
The DOJ argued in a brief submitted to the nation’s highest court on June 26 that Bannon should be ordered to report to prison on July 1.
Bannon was found guilty in 2022 of contempt of Congress for his failure to appear before the Jan. 6 Committee and to produce the requested documents.
After a protracted legal struggle culminating in a conviction, Bannon sought an urgent ruling from the Supreme Court on June 21 in order to vacate his four-month jail term.
The federal government’s attorneys have stated that Bannon’s request for a stay of execution does not meet the “extraordinary” standard that would permit his release pending investigation.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar asserted that Bannon “responded to the subpoena with total noncompliance.”
“He did not produce any documents and refused to appear for his scheduled deposition.”
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