The social media account purportedly belonging to the daughter of the presiding judge in Donald Trump's hush-money case, on the basis of which the Republican presumptive nominee demanded his recusal, was deleted by Judge Juan Merchan's daughter a year ago, the New York state court system said.
The handle on X, formerly Twitter, that featured a profile picture of Trump behind bars used to belong to Loren Merchan. However, New York state's Office of Court Administration (OCA) said the account has been appropriated by an unknown person, making it seem like it was Merchan's daughter.
Trump seized on that account Wednesday in demanding that Judge Merchan recuse himself.
"The X, formerly Twitter, account being attributed to Judge Merchan's daughter no longer belongs to her since she deleted it approximately a year ago," OCA spokesperson Al Baker said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday.
"It is not linked to her email address, nor has she posted under that screen name since she deleted the account," Baker added. "Rather, it represents the reconstitution, last April, and manipulation of an account she long ago abandoned."
Loren Merchan is a president and partner at Authentic, a digital marketing agency. Her profile says she has done "ground-breaking, historical work" for Democrats Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Rep. Adam Schiff of California, among others.
It's because of that Trump's lawyer first demanded Merchan's recusal last year, which he declined. Trump demanded the recusal again Wednesday when presented with the faux X account.
"Maybe the Judge is such a hater because his daughter makes money by working to 'Get Trump,' and when he rules against me over and over again, he is making her company, and her, richer and richer. How can this be allowed?" he posted on Truth Social.
Merchan hit Trump with a gag order Tuesday, preventing the former president from making public statements about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, and jurors in his upcoming criminal trial, set to start April 15.
"So, let me get this straight, the Judge's daughter is allowed to post pictures of her 'dream' of putting me in jail, the Manhattan D.A. is able to say whatever lies about me he wants, the Judge can violate our Laws and Constitution at every turn, but I am not allowed to talk about the attacks against me, and the Lunatics trying to destroy my life, and prevent me from winning the 2024 Presidential Election, which I am dominating?" Trump asked in the post.
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in payments made to then-attorney Michael Cohen, what the court asserts was reimbursement for making payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels in an attempt to cover up an affair.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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