A state ethics panel quietly dismissed a complaint last summer against the New York judge presiding over the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, issuing a warning over small donations the judge had made to groups supporting Democrats, including the campaign of Joseph R. Biden.
The judge, Juan M. Merchan, donated a total of $35 to the groups in 2020, including a $15 donation earmarked for the Biden campaign, and $10 to a group called “Stop Republicans.”Political contributions of any kind are prohibited under state judicial ethics rules.
“Justice Merchan said the complaint, from more than a year ago, was dismissed in July with a caution,” the spokesman for the court system, Al Baker, said in a statement.
A caution does not include any penalty, but it can be considered in any future cases reviewed by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct.
A letter outlining the caution was not released because of the commission’s rules, and Justice Merchan did not make the letter available.
Persons:
Donald J, Joseph R, Biden, Juan M, ”, Merchan, Al Baker
Organizations:
New, Trump, Republicans, state’s, Judicial
Locations:
New York