Unique: Former President Trump said New York Judge Juan Marchan “thinks he’s above the Supreme Court,” after she “banned” him from participating in a debate on presidential immunity on Thursday, he told Fox News Digital. The case is “the most important case in many years” before the High Court. court.
The former president and potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee spoke exclusively to Fox News Digital on Wednesday after spending the last two days in a Manhattan courtroom. initial argument and witness testimony in his unprecedented criminal trial.
Trump had requested to participate in arguments at the Supreme Court during oral arguments about former presidential immunity on Thursday, but Judge Juan Marchan, who is presiding over the case, rejected that request.
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Trump said, “Because he thinks he’s above the Supreme Court, he’s blocking me from going to the presidential immunity hearing, where some of the greatest legal scholars will argue this case — which will be the first the Supreme Court has heard in many years.” The most important matter.” Fox News Digital.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule in June on whether Trump is granted immunity from prosecution by special counsel Jack Smith to investigate 2020 election interference.
Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower on Monday, April 15, 2024 in New York City. Jury selection began this morning in the so-called secret money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court. (Investigative Media for Fox News Digital)
He further said, “Without presidential immunity, the presidency becomes merely a ceremonial position; it will cease to exist.” “He’s keeping me from going. He’s a radical left-wing Democrat.”
When Trump requested to participate in the Supreme Court debate last week, Merchan told his attorney: “It’s a big deal to argue before the Supreme Court, and I can certainly appreciate why your client is there. Would like to stay.”
“But the trial in New York Supreme Court … is also a big deal,” Merchan said last week, requiring the former president to be in his Manhattan courtroom on Thursday instead of the high court in Washington, DC.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the issue of presidential immunity is expected by the end of June.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has declared himself innocent of all charges.
“Almost every legal scholar and expert in the country said this case should not have been brought, there was no crime, everything was done properly and this is a case that should have been thrown out immediately,” Trump told Fox News Digital. should go.” Wednesday.
He said, “It’s an embarrassment to Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party who are standing behind this and that the judge is completely conflicted – completely conflicted.”
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo delivers opening statements while former US President Donald Trump watches this courtroom sketch with his attorney Todd Blanche in front of Justice Juan Marchan. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
“If business records have been falsified because a bookkeeper has written ‘Legal expenses’ in paying legal fees, “This is not fraud,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “They call it legal expenses — and that’s what it was. It was a legal expense.”
He added: “This was a legal fee paid to a solicitor – this is called legal expenses.”
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Former President Donald Trump has been in Manhattan criminal court for most of the last two weeks (Angela Weiss/AFP via AP, Pool/AP)
Trump’s criminal prosecution stemming from Smith’s investigation has been put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on whether Trump is immune from prosecution.
Smith charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempted obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the authorities. The charges stem from Smith’s investigation into whether Trump was involved in the January 6 Capitol riot and any alleged interference in the 2020 election results.
Trump pleaded innocent to all charges in August.
Meanwhile, Trump also asked the court to leave on May 17 to attend the high school graduation of his youngest son, Barron.
“The second thing is that the judge is blocking me from going to the high school graduation of my son Barron, who has worked very hard and is a great student,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “He couldn’t attend his father’s graduation because of a rogue judge, which is completely contradictory.”
Trump warned Joe Biden would go ‘crooked’ if he lost presidential immunity
“He should never have been allowed to work on this case,” Trump said.
Trump and his lawyers had sought to recuse Marchen from the case because of her daughter’s Democrat-affiliated political work.
FILE – In this Aug. 27, 2020 file photo, Barron Trump, right, stands with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the South Lawn of the White House during the fourth day of the Republican National Convention in Washington. (AP Photo/Ivan Vucci)
Merchan’s daughter, Lorraine, has a leadership role and ownership stake in Authentic Campaigns Inc., which Trump’s lawyers say “exclusively serves Democrat clients” and is “the #1 in the country in connection with the 2024 election.” She is a 21st ranked salesperson.”
Some of Authentic’s top “featured clients” on its website include campaigns associated with Trump opponents – including “President Biden, Vice President Harris, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Congressman Schiff, Congressman Jeffries, Congressman Goldman, Congresswoman Underwood, and Congresswoman Lee also features his work for the Democrat-backed “Senate Majority PAC” and the Democrat-backed “House Majority PAC.”
Marchan said he sees no basis for recusing himself.
As for Barron’s graduation, Merchen has not yet formally accepted or rejected Trump’s request, and instead, has said he will make his decision based on how the lawsuit plays out. Is.
