“There was not a random selection of a judge in this case, and there should have been,” Mr. Brennan said. Without evidence, Mr. Trump has suggested that Mr. Bragg played a role in Justice Merchan’s assignment to the case. “The Judge ‘assigned’ to my Witch Hunt Case, a ‘Case’ that has NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME,” Mr. Trump wrote. The Trump Organization tax-fraud case did move forward under Mr. Bragg, ending in a conviction in December 2022. Justice Merchan sentenced the Trump Organization in January to pay $1.6 million in criminal fines.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 30, 2023 18:48 UTC