The judge in president-elect Donald Trump’s hush money case accused Trump’s defense lawyers, who are incoming Department of Justice officials, of undermining the judicial system in his ruling to sentence Trump before inauguration.
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan accused Trump’s legal team of engaging in “dangerous rhetoric” when calling into question the proceedings’ constitutionality and lawfulness, according to the ruling. Trump’s defense team includes deputy attorney general nominee Todd Blanche and principal associate deputy attorney general appointee Emil Bove.
Trump named Blanche and Bove to their positions on Nov. 14.
“Now however, counsel has resorted to language, indeed rhetoric, that has no place in legal pleadings…” Merchan wrote in his decision. “Viewed in full context and mindful of the parties to this action, such arguments, in the…
