In a shocking ruling that has sparked outrage among supporters of President-Elect Donald Trump, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan has refused to dismiss Trump’s felony conviction in the so-called “hush money” case, despite the recent Supreme Court decision affirming broad presidential immunity for acts performed while in office.
In the Trump v. United States case, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents enjoy extensive protection from legal action related to official actions taken during their term. However, in his ruling on Monday, Judge Merchan, who has been accused of being installed by far-left billionaire George Soros, chose not to consider whether Trump’s recent election victory should compel dismissal of his conviction in the New York business records case.
Merchan’s decision is seen by many as a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s findings and yet another attempt by the entrenched deep state to thwart the will of the American people who decisively elected Trump as their next President.
“We are deeply disappointed but not surprised by this ruling from a clearly compromised judge,” said a spokesperson for the Trump campaign. “For months now we have seen a concerted effort by the left and their allies in the legal system to use the courts as a political weapon against President-Elect Trump. But the people have spoken and their choice will not be undone by rouge judges and their Democrat masters.”
Judge Merchan’s refusal to rule on the implications of Trump’s presidential status has set off a firestorm, with many questioning his impartiality and motivations. Critics point to his alleged ties to George Soros as well-known funding source for leftist causes and Democrat politicians as evidence of his bias against Trump.
Even before this controversial ruling, concerns had been raised about Merchan’s appointment to hear this case given his history of politicized “lawfare” rulings. As one legal analyst put it, “You don’t have to connect many dots to perceive that this is a highly political ruling intended to damage Trump, not deliver fair justice.”
With Trump’s conviction now set to move forward, the political stakes could not be higher. His opponents see this case as their last best chance to cripple his presidency before he can even take office. Should they prevail, it would represent a stunning thwarting of the democratic process and a dark day for the rule of law in America.
For his part, Trump has vowed to continue fighting what he calls “the witch hunt” targeting him. In a statement, he said “The American people gave me a mandate to drain the swamp and build a government that serves the people, not the special interests. I won’t let corrupt judges and their Democratic patrons stop me from keeping that promise.”
As the case moves forward, all eyes will be on the appellate courts to see if they uphold the Supreme Court’s unequivocal affirmation of presidential immunity or allow this patently political prosecution to stand. In the end, the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of American democracy may well hang in the balance.
