A New York judge, Juan Merchan, has denied Donald Trump's request for a third time to recuse himself from the hush money case, stating there was no new evidence of conflict of interest.

Judge Merchan has scheduled a ruling on an immunity claim for September 16, followed by a sentencing hearing on September 18.

As the case approaches a critical ruling and potential sentencing, Trump has lost his bid for a new judge in this high-profile legal proceeding.

This decision clears the way for Trump's sentencing on September 18 for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Trump's legal team has raised concerns about Merchan's impartiality, particularly since Vice President Kamala Harris is now a rival candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

Trump's lawyers have claimed that Merchan has a conflict of interest due to his daughter's political consulting work for prominent Democrats, including Harris.

However, a state court ethics panel previously ruled that the judge's relative's political activities do not constitute a valid reason to question his impartiality.

Prosecutors have dismissed Trump's recusal request as frivolous, arguing it is an attempt to relitigate the issue without basis.

Despite the legal challenges, Trump maintains that the accusations are politically motivated and plans to appeal the conviction after sentencing.

This case marks a significant moment in history, as Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony while campaigning for office.

Kamala Harris is leveraging Trump's legal troubles in her campaign, positioning herself as a former prosecutor opposing a 'convicted criminal' in the election.