Trump Seeks New Judge in Election Conspiracy Trial

Former President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will be seeking a new judge in his upcoming trial on charges of inciting the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump said that he believes the current judge, Amit Mehta, is biased against him and cannot give him a fair trial.

🔊 Click play button to listen

Former President Donald Trump speaks as the keynote speaker at the 56th Annual Silver Elephant Dinner hosted by the South Carolina Republican Party on August 5, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina. President Trump was introduced by South Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster."Melissa Sue Gerrits, Getty Images"

Mehta is a federal judge in Washington, D.C., who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014. Trump has repeatedly attacked Mehta, calling him a "radical leftist" and a "disgrace to the judiciary."

Trump's lawyers argue that Mehta cannot be impartial in the case because he has made public statements criticizing Trump in the past, and that he has donated to Democratic candidates. They also argue that Mehta is biased against Trump because he is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, which has censured Trump for his role in the January 6th attack.

The Justice Department has defended Mehta, saying that he is a fair and impartial judge. The department has also said that Trump's lawyers are trying to delay the trial by seeking a new judge.

A hearing on Trump's motion for a new judge is scheduled for August 10th. It is unclear whether Mehta will recuse himself from the case or whether a new judge will be appointed.

Trump's petition to have a different judge oversee his trial is a sign that he is not confident that he will receive a fair trial in the nation's capital. It is also a sign that he is willing to fight the charges against him to the fullest extent possible.

It remains to be seen whether Trump will be successful in his petition. However, his efforts to have the case moved and to have a different judge appointed are sure to add to the drama surrounding his upcoming trial.