The motion also noted that the judge encouraged a former Trump Organization executive to cooperate during a prior case, calling that a preconceived bias against Trump. It is proceeding in state court ahead of a decision. The Trump Organization was not successful in getting him to step aside in the tax-fraud case. Trump's lawyers say the judge pushed former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to cooperate during plea negotiations in last year's tax fraud case against him and the company. The Trump Organization was found guilty of tax fraud and fined $1.6 million.

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Persons: Donald Trump, Justice Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Read, Trump's, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump, Robert Tembeckjian, Daniels, Stephanie Clifford, Lucian Chalfen, Loren, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Karen Freifeld, Luc Cohen, Andy Sullivan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Justice, New, Trump Organization, Trump, Democratic, Biden, Judicial, Manhattan District Attorney, Authentic, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New York, Merchan