Agree with your report, but absolving Merchan of all responsibility and instead blaming “The System” is wrong. “The System” is comprised of ideological extremists and Juan Merchan is a very powerful member of it.
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I agree the entire case is a travesty and as a member of the legal community, it stinks to high heaven and anyone involved ought to be ashamed and investigated.
That said, if for some reason, the judge took himself out of it, some other judge would be assigned, and something would take place.
If Merchan recused himself they might assign it to somebody even worse. A NY appeals court reduced the Engoron bond by 9 figures.