The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct dismissed an ethics complaint against Justice Juan Merchan, who oversees the hush money criminal case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, a spokesperson for the judge confirmed.
“Justice Merchan said the complaint, filed more than a year ago, was dismissed in July with a caution,” stated Al Baker of the state Office of Court Administration this week in response to a Reuters inquiry.
According to commission rules, officials may take a caution into consideration in the event of any future misconduct.
The complaint arose from donations in 2020. The Federal Election Commission reported that these donations included $35 to the Democratic group ActBlue, with $15 earmarked for Biden for President and $10 each to Progressive Turnout Project and Stop Republicans. Reuters could not identify the individual who made the complaint.
Republican Trump, aiming to reclaim the White House in a Nov. 5 election against Democratic President Joe Biden, has sought to disqualify Merchan from the hush money case. Trump and his lawyers argue that the judge is conflicted because of his daughter’s work as a political consultant for Democrats and have raised concerns about the political contributions.
In its 2024 annual report, the Commission on Judicial Conduct stated that contributions violate rules on prohibited political activity. The report mentioned that several dozen judges had made prohibited contributions in recent years, mostly to candidates for federal office. These contributions were typically modest, often under $100 and sometimes as low as $5 or $10.
The commission’s investigation and its outcome had not been previously reported. A commission administrator declined to comment. The commission’s proceedings remain confidential unless it decides on public censure or other discipline, or if the judge makes them public.
Last year, Merchan denied Trump’s first motion for his recusal after a separate Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics stated that the modest, more than two-year-old contributions could not create an impression of bias or favoritism.
On trial in New York, Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims they had a sexual encounter. Trump denies the encounter.
Last month, Trump filed another recusal motion, which Merchan denied.
