Donald Trump asks for recusal of judge in election conspiracy case

Former US president Donald Trump filed a motion on Monday seeking the recusal of the judge who is to preside over his historic trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan should step aside because of past statements she has made about the former president that demonstrate bias, Trump's attorneys said in a court filing.

"Judge Chutkan has, in connection with other cases, suggested that President Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned," they said. "Such statements, made before this case began and without due process, are inherently disqualifying. Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial - and may believe that she can do so - her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome," they said.


Legal experts said the unusual recusal motion was unlikely to succeed because it is Chutkan herself who would have to voluntarily agree to step aside.