Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Republicans push for criminal probe into judge in Trump hush money case – and the judge’s daughter

Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter Loren Merchan, as well as Special Counsel Jack Smith

Mike Bedigan
New York
Tuesday 12 November 2024 19:45 GMT
Comments
Related: Trump lashes out at judge outside his hush money trial

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s sweeping victory, Republicans are turning their attention to those in the judicial system who went up against the president-elect in the courts.

Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan – and his daughter Loren Merchan.

Merchan oversaw Trump’s high-profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year. His daughter subsequently became the target of attacks by the president-elect due to her Democrat-leaning political activities.

“Let’s look at Judge Merchan and his daughter, who was actually a fundraiser and was actually trying to support Kamala Harris and Joe Biden when it came to raising funds on the back of President Trump being in the New York court system,” Mills said.

“I think that what we’re seeing right now is that the Department of Injustice and the lawfare that was going on is now coming to a screeching halt with President-elect Donald Trump coming back into office.”

During the hush money trial, Trump ignored an order from Merchan that he should rein in his fiery posts on social media, in which he accused the judge of having a “Trump-hating family” with ties to Kamala Harris.

Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (left) and Cory Mills (right) floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan, and his daughter
Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (left) and Cory Mills (right) floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan, and his daughter (Fox News)

“I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris, and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign – and a lot of it,” he said.

According to Mike Nellis, founder of political consulting firm Authentic Campaigns Inc, which employs Loren Merchan, she did some work for Harris’s presidential campaign in 2019 but never “developed an individual personal relationship” with the candidate, and had only “minimal input or contact with any political clients” during the 2024 election cycle.

Nellis said Merchan had received death threats following Trump’s comments and had been advised to stay away from the family home.

In August, the House judiciary chairman Jim Jordan, a key ally of Trump, subpoenaed the firm to testify as part of his investigation into what he called the “weaponization” of the federal goverment. However, Nellis said any suggestion that the company played any part in Trump’s criminal trial or conviction was “completely false and purely politically motivated.”

On Sunday, Mills and Luna also discussed possible criminal cases being pursued against Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought charges against Trump for trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.

Judge Juan Merchan oversaw Trump’s high profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year
Judge Juan Merchan oversaw Trump’s high profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year (AP)

It was reported this week that Smith and the Justice Department are trying to “wind down” the federal criminal cases against Trump before he returns to the White House in January, in order to comply with its long-standing policy not to prosecute sitting presidents.

“What I will tell you… is that Jack Smith violated the Constitution,” Luna said.

“And I’m really happy that Jim Jordan and the House Judiciary is telling him to preserve evidence because even after President Trump is elected, we need to ensure that this never happens to any other candidate for president ever again.”

She added: “And so we have to follow through, see who exactly ordered that," she continued. "And if it means that we need to bring criminal prosecution, I think that we need to.”

It was recently reported that Jack Smith (pictured) and the Justice Department are trying to ‘wind down’ the federal criminal cases against Trump before he returns to the White House
It was recently reported that Jack Smith (pictured) and the Justice Department are trying to ‘wind down’ the federal criminal cases against Trump before he returns to the White House (AFP via Getty Images)

Their comments stopped short of shocking remarks previously aired on Fox, in which hosts Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld joked that Smith and others who had prosecuted Trump should receive the death penalty.

“Dana… a lot of the people that were on this and wanted it so badly, how are they going to survive? Do you think they need therapy,” Gutfeld asked Perino.

“Yes, they definitely need therapy,” the former White House press secretary responded. “Maybe also the death penalty?”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in