Judge Juan Merchan, who has presided over former President Donald Trump’s hush money case, has been removed from Trump ally Steve Bannon’s New York criminal trial relating to his “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign.
A court statement from Judge Ellen Biben said Merchan is no longer on the case because of a conflicting schedule. “Merchan … who is assigned to this matter, is engaged to preside over a six-defendant trial that is scheduled to commence on 09/16/24 and expected to last at least three months,” she wrote, while Bannon’s trial is set to begin on Sept. 23.
The statement ends by saying Judge April Newbauer will preside over Bannon’s case and “follow up with the parties to schedule a status conference and for any further communication.”
Newbauer previously made news for setting bail at $5,000 for a man charged with assault of a woman and attempted burglary, far beneath what prosecutors asked for. Months later, out on bail, the man was charged with killing the woman, her friend, and her dog.
Bannon has a scheduled appearance before her on July 23.
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Bannon previously pleaded not guilty to several criminal charges, including money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud in relation to his fundraising campaign in which he allegedly duped donors.
The Trump ally will go to a Connecticut prison for four months starting July 1 for a 2022 contempt of Congress conviction regarding his refusal to assist the Jan. 6 House committee. He has recently requested that the Supreme Court delay his sentence.
