(NationRise.com) – Former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump suffered two court losses on May 23 in New York City as his criminal trial reaches its conclusion. Judges from the Appellate Division of the state of New York ruled against Trump by denying separate requests to compel the state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to recuse himself from his case and to transfer the trial to another county.
In the ruling, the court explained that the former commander-in-chief’s legal team didn’t properly establish that the court exceeded its jurisdiction when Merchan didn’t accept the first request. The judges added that Trump’s legal team also failed to prove that their client had any right “to recusal.”
The conservative leader pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts of allegedly falsifying and manipulating some of his business records to conceal the money he allegedly gave to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. She was one of two women whom Trump reportedly paid during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has consistently denied any affair with the two actresses and has even claimed that the whole case is part of a “witch hunt” coordinated by the Democratic Party and some Republican leaders.
Regarding the denial of Trump’s trial relocation request, the judges only explained that they had made the decision after “due deliberation” and had filed every single document about the motion in question. Legal experts said on social media that the final verdict would come earlier than expected and explained that the Republican nominee could face years behind bars if convicted.
While many believe that Trump’s legal crises might affect his popularity and make him weaker against US President Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential election, some experts have said that such a scenario is unlikely to happen. One of these was political commentator Ben Shapiro, who explained that Trump is known for being a political leader who “rarely” suffers the consequences of the scandals and controversies surrounding him.
On May 30, the 12 jurors in Trump’s New York “hush money” trial found him guilty on 34 felony counts.
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