Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) maintained his criticisms of the daughter of the judge overseeing former President Trump’s criminal case on Sunday, asserting that she is a “political operative.”
Scott was in New York City on Thursday to show support for Trump in his criminal case, where he is facing over 34 felony counts of altering business records connected to efforts to hide a past affair before the 2016 election.
Outside the courthouse, Scott targeted Judge Juan Merchan's daughter, alleging that she was a Democratic operative and that her work had influenced the judge’s fairness. Trump had previously made similar comments, but he was rebuked after Merchan enlarged a gag order in the case.
“The judge’s daughter is a political operative and raises money for Democrats,” Scott stated in New York.
When questioned in a “Fox News Sunday” interview about why he personally attacked someone who is not involved in politics, Scott stood by his statements.
“The Democrats are using the court system to pursue and criminally prosecute a political opponent,” Scott stated. “They’re just thugs attempting to prevent Trump from being able to run for president.”
“The judge’s daughter is a major Democrat fundraiser,” he added. “Everybody involved in this is part of the Democrat machine. It looks awful.”
The daughter, Loren Merchan, formerly worked at a progressive consulting firm and has represented Democratic-aligned groups as an attorney.
Trump’s prior attacks on Merchan were widely criticized as unnecessary and excessively personal. Some of Trump’s initial claims were based on falsehoods spread by false news accounts, as a hearing on the matter later revealed.
Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) stated at the time that “families should always be off-limits,” criticizing the former president.
Trump’s attacks were an effort to persuade Judge Merchan to withdraw from the case, but he did not.
The trial in the case continues this week, after some of the case’s key witnesses testified in court last week. It is unclear whether Trump himself will testify.
