A federal judge withdrew Friday from presiding over the defamation suit filed by the exonerated Central Park Five against President-elect Trump.
U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson, appointed by former President George W. Bush, recused himself from the case after it was revealed that he has long-standing friendships with Shanin Specter, the group’s lead attorney, who has also represented him and his wife in previous legal issues, according to The Hill. The litigation will be transferred to another judge within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the lawsuit was initially filed.
Trump’s legal team had advocated for Baylson’s withdrawal from the case, citing concerns over his impartiality that could arise in the eyes of a reasonable observer. The plaintiffs concurred with the motion for recusal, The Hill reported. The defamation claim against…
