WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will seek to have the judge overseeing his criminal trial recused, arguing that he will not receive a fair trial. Trump is facing charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and defraud the United States.
The target of Trump’s petition is US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was appointed by Democratic former president Barack Obama and is presiding over the case in Washington. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his displeasure, stating that he cannot receive a fair trial with the current judge assigned to the case.
“We will be immediately asking for recusal of this judge on very powerful grounds, and likewise for venue change,” Trump wrote, suggesting a change of venue out of Washington, a majority Black city that leans heavily Democratic.
Judge Already Denies Trump’s Legal Team’s Demands
Judge Chutkan has already denied Trump’s legal team’s recent demands, including their motion to extend a deadline for responding to the US government’s protective order request. Trump wanted the deadline extended to Thursday, but the judge ruled that they must abide by the current deadline of 5:00 pm Monday.
This is not the first time Judge Chutkan has ruled against Trump. She previously ruled against him in a case in November 2021, in which she asserted that “presidents are not kings.” She has also handed down lengthy sentences to Trump supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Trump, who is currently the frontrunner in the race for the Republican presidential nomination for 2024, has been openly critical of Judge Chutkan and Washington, calling the capital city a place of “filth and decay” after his arraignment on Thursday.
The trial date for the election case is expected to be announced on August 28 at a hearing before Judge Chutkan.
