Former President Donald Trump's legal team filed a motion Friday requesting the recusal of Acting Justice Juan Merchan over alleged "actual conflict" and "unacceptable appearance of impropriety," the New York Times reported.

The paperwork requests that the trial, slated for April 15, be delayed while Trump's team challenges Merchan's recent gag order against Trump.

The recusal request alleged a conflict of interest, citing Merchan's daughter's political activities.

"Your Honor's daughter, Loren Merchan, has a direct financial interest in these proceedings by virtue of her ownership stake and leadership role at Authentic Campaigns, Inc. Based on public disbursements data, Authentic, which services exclusively Democrat clients, is the #21 ranked vendor in the country in connection with the 2024 election," the 37-page filing stated. "The Court's interest in these proceedings by virtue of the close relationship with an immediate relative, and Ms. Merchan's ongoing receipt of commercial and reputational benefits based on the manner in which Your Honor has conducted these proceedings, requires recusal based on an actual conflict and an unacceptable appearance of impropriety."

The judge's gag order prevents the former president from making public statements about individuals involved in the case, including Loren Merchan.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Now, we have Merchan, who is not allowing me to talk, thereby violating the Law and the Constitution, all at once. It is so bad what he is trying to get away with - How was he even chosen for this case??? I heard he fought like hell to get it, and all of the rest of them also!"

"If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR," Trump continued. "We have to Save our Country from these Political Operatives masquerading as Prosecutors and Judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my Freedom for that worthy cause."

Trump's attorneys previously requested a recusal in August 2023, which was "based on 'remote and 'speculative' arguments," according to the Friday court filing. "We dispute that conclusion, and it is clear that this motion cannot reasonably be dispensed of in that fashion."

At the time of the first recusal request, Trump was not yet the Republican nominee. His team argued that additional evidence demonstrating a conflict of interest had since surfaced.

The filing noted that Trump's success in the 2024 presidential election primaries "has cemented his status as a political target of Authentic, Ms. Merchan, and their clients."

"While that appears to be consistent with the company's political views, the more important consideration for purposes of this motion is that Authentic benefits reputationally and makes more money by targeting President Trump," it added.

Trump's team argued that "it would be completely unacceptable to most New Yorkers if the judge presiding over these proceedings had an adult child who worked at WinRed or MAGA Inc."

"Personal political views may not be a basis for recusal," the court filings continued. "But profiting from the promotion of a political agenda that is hostile to President Trump, and has included fundraising solicitations based on this case, must be."

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of falsifying business records lodged against him in April 2023 by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

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California Democrats Admit It’s Unconstitutional To Ban Gun Ownership

Gun control advocates keep telling us that there is 90-plus percent support in polls for expanded background checks, but the support is much less solid than the media and gun control advocates would have you believe.

21-year-old TikTok star 'suddenly and unexpectedly' dies during 'early morning hours,' parents say

Canadian TikTok star Megha Thakur, 21, "suddenly and unexpectedly" died during the "early morning hours" of Nov. 24, Yahoo Life reported, citing a post from her parents on Thakur's Instagram page.

"It is with heavy hearts we announce the light of our life, our kind, caring, and beautiful daughter, Megha Thakur, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on Nov. 24, 2022 in the early morning hours," the post's message read.

See on Instagram

"Megha was a confident and independent young woman. She will be dearly missed. She loved her fans and would have wanted you to know of her passing. At this time, we request your blessings for Megha. Your thoughts and prayers will be with her in her onward journey," her parents added in the Instagram post.

Who was Thakur?

The Daily Beast said Thakur "posted videos promoting body positivity and self-confidence while documenting her fashion and influencer lifestyle." As of Friday morning there were more than 930,000 followers and nearly 32 million likes on her TikTok page. Thakur's final TikTok post appeared Nov. 18; the same post hit her Instagram page the same day.

Content warning: Language:

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"You're in charge of your destiny. Remember that," she wrote on her final TikTok post while adding the hashtags "#confidence" and "#selflove."

Yahoo Life, citing the Western Gazette, said Thakur posted her first video in November 2019 and was a student at Western University in London, Ontario, where she studied computer science in the fall of 2021.

A funeral service was held Tuesday in her hometown of Brampton, Ontario, Yahoo Life added.

'I cried for her all day'

Expressions of love and sadness flowed into the comments section of Thakur's final TikTok post:

"RIP," one user said. "I admired her so much. Definitely a role model for the young ones."
"She died unexpectedly that’s what makes it scarier," another commenter said. "If she had an existing health condition it would have been easier to process, but life is short."
"I'm still in shock," another user said. "Life is so short. One minute ur here and then ur gone, rest in peace queen."
"I am in disbelief," another commenter said. "I’ve rarely ever shed tears for someone I’ve looked up to on social media, but I’m crying as I type this. I don’t know what to say."
"I'm shocked, I cant believe it," another user said. "She helped me to learn how to love myself…I adored her. She was a beautiful soul. I cried for her all day…"

These are the definitive recordings of 35 favorite Christmas carols: Don't argue, just listen

Because nobody doesn't love a list and everybody is an expert nowadays, I've compiled a list of the definitive recordings of 35 of the most loved classic Christmas carols.

Don't agree? That's OK — you're allowed to be wrong. (Spoiler alert: There are zero Josh Groban or Pentatonix songs on this list. If you find that upsetting, this probably isn't the list for you anyway. Just click on something else.)

Merry Christmas! And happy listening:

#1: SILENT NIGHT — Dean Martin

This one was a gimme — that way we don't start out the list fighting.

***

#2: HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS — Ella Fitzgerald

Yes, I know, I know, Judy did it first for "Meet Me in St. Louis"; however, that does not make it the best. If you think Garland's rendition is better than Ella's, you're probably also a Liza Minnelli fan.

***

#3: JOY TO THE WORLD — Whitney Houston

Now, a lot of people will tell you that Mariah Carey has cornered the market on this old hymn, but that's only because she was hitched to Sony's Tommy Mottola when she cut the holiday album that features the song. If Whitney were still around today and able to get the press Mariah does, I'm pretty sure everybody would be saying "Mariah who?" when it was time to drop the needle on "Joy to the World."

***

#4: IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR — Andy Williams

If you fight me on this one, we can't be friends.

***

#5: THE CHRISTMAS SONG — Nat King Cole

C'mon. Mel Torme wrote the song (with Bob Wells) and gave it to Cole to sing, knowing he was the guy to make this song unforgettable. Other people can roast their chestnuts all they want — many have done it well — but Cole's take will never be topped. Ever.

***

#6: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING — Amy Grant

Truthfully, Jewel's arrangement of "Hark!" is superior, but the problem is ... Jewel, the woman who sings like she has marbles in her mouth and can't decide if she's going to do an adult voice or a little girl voice. Advantage: Grant.

***

#7: ADESTE FIDELES — Celine Dion

No one really knows who wrote "O Come, All Ye Faithful," but anyone with any sense knows who did best. (Though I have to give a nod to David Osmond's strong performance on Glenn Beck's "Believe Again" album.)

***

#8: WHITE CHRISTMAS — Bing Crosby

There's a reason this Crosby record is the best-selling single in the world — not just in the holiday genre, but best-selling single of all time. Nothing has ever topped it, and it's likely nothing ever will.

***

#9: RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER — Gene Autry

Yes, Burl Ives was the narrator for the TV special. Yes, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling from Ives' record. No, it's isn't the best version. That belongs to The Singing Cowboy.

***

#10: IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS — Johnny Mathis

Crosby and Como both killed it when they recorded this song, but the Mathis version has the edge — not just in quality but also culturally with its inclusion in "Home Alone 2," which gave it a massive surge in popularity.

***

#11: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS — Perry Como

Is there really any question? No. No there isn't.

***

#12: JINGLE BELLS — Frank Sinatra

Don't question this one either: Frank knows people who know how to hurt people. (Well, at least, he used to.)

***

#13: SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN — Jackson 5

The Boss would say different. But you and I know the truth.

***

#14: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH — Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The "Gloria, in excelsis Deo" chorus requires a powerful choir. Good luck finding a choir more powerful than the one the LDS folks put together.

***

#15: FROSTY THE SNOWMAN — Jimmy Durante

The Ronettes produced a very good version and it gets way more airplay, which is a shame: Durante's recording is a musical number Rankin & Bass actually got right.

***

#16: A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS — Burl Ives

This is Ives' song. No one else should even try to sing it.

***

#17: WINTER WONDERLAND — Perry Como

Admit it, you were expecting me to say Darline Love here. It's OK. It's a normal and fairly logical guess. But it also happens to be incorrect. Not only did Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass cut a version that was better (though wordless), both of Perry Como's versions (here and here) are objectively better. Here is the track from his 1946 album "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music."

***

#18: LET IT SNOW! LET IS SNOW! LET IT SNOW! — Lena Horne

Lots of artists have made great "Let It Snow!" records (including Harry Connick Jr., who deserves a mention). But none of them ever reached the smoothness — and, frankly, sexiness — of Lena Horne's.

***

#19: THE FIRST NOEL — Third Day

It's a more modern version of an old hymn with some cool rhythm. It's also the best version ever recorded.

***

#20: SILVER BELLS — Elvis Presley

After The King walked out of the studio the day he laid this down, there was no reason for anyone to ever bother trying to do it better.

***

#21: SLEIGH RIDE — Ella Fitzgerald

You want me to say Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops Orchestra. Not gonna happen. Lady Ella owns this — and always will.

***

#22: DECK THE HALLS — Ashley Hess

Ashley Hess is not likely a name you recognize at first. But if you're a Glenn Beck fan, you'll remember this after a quick listen. And then you'll agree.

***

#23: GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN — Barenaked Ladies

Here's one that had me going back and forth for hours. Everything Nat King Cole touched was superb, so I could easily put his recording here and be done with it. But ... the Barenaked Ladies put a spin on this classic that has just the edge needed to bump it ahead of Cole.

***

#24: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS — John Denver & The Muppets

The LP of this 1979 Christmas special (which has never been released on home video) is full of great music. The most notable is the Muppet Gang's clever rundown of the many gifts the writer's obnoxious "true love" gave him. Bah-dum-bum-bum.

***

#25: ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY — Julie Andrews

If you like Andrews' style, you'll absolutely love all of her Christmas songs. Her best Christmas record happens to also be the best version of that song.

***

#26: DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? — Perry Como

I know he's already got a couple wins on this list, but I've got to give Como this one, too, with Andy Williams coming in a close second.

***

#27: IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR — MercyMe

Another modern take on a hymn. On first listen, you'll disagree with me on its ranking. But then you'll listen again and again and be forced to admit that, well, the fat Blaze editor was right once more.

***

#28: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY — Bing Crosby & David Bowie

It's a beautiful song — it's also the strangest Christmas song. Crosby and Bowie's awkward video didn't help make it less weird. But you can't argue with the talent they brought to the studio when it was time to record.

***

#29: WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS — Alvin and the Chipmunks

Every Christmas music list is required to include Alvin and the Chipmunks. It's scriptural.

***

#30: ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE — Leann Rimes

"Brenda Lee!" you're shouting as you read this. "You're nuts!" I'm shouting back. Lee's famous record doesn't have 1 percent of the feel (or talent, for that matter) that Rimes' does.

***

#31: O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM — Andy Williams

I was torn on this one — all the way up until it was time to post this. My brain tells me to go with Mahalia Jackson's soulful version. But my heart says this is another song that The King of Christmas just nailed.

***

#32: WHAT CHILD IS THIS? — Vince Guaraldi Trio

Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas" album is arguably the best complete holiday album ever produced. No one has ever made "Greensleeves" sound better.

***

#33: GOOD KING WENCESLAS — Ames Brothers

Though a lot of folks will say The Velvet Fog's jazzy turn on this tale of a ruler who looked out for others should be tops, I've got a soft spot in my heart for the Ames Brothers' record. The majesty of the music sets the tone for understanding the lesson we can learn from Wenceslas.

***

#34: O HOLY NIGHT — David Phelps

Here's another hymn that could have gone to a couple artists. Critics have rightfully celebrated Celine Dion for her rendition, but David Phelps really brought it home. (Plus, Celine is Canadian, so the thought of giving her more than one song on this list was nauseating.)

***

#35: MY FAVORITE THINGS — Tony Bennett

No one has ever explained to me how this became a Christmas song. Julie Andrews really made it famous on "The Sound of Music," and since then, scads of very notable vocalists have covered it for Christmas — no one better than Bennett. (Barbra Streisand can get bent.)

This post originally ran Dec. 25, 2019.