The recusal motion against US district judge Tanya Chutkan based on two public statements alone faces major legal hurdles

Donald Trump’s legal team on Monday asked the federal judge overseeing the 2020 election interference prosecution against him to remove herself from the case, arguing that her previous public comments after the former president’s culpability in the January 6 Capitol attack was disqualifying.

The recusal motion, filed to and against the US district judge Tanya Chutkan, faces major legal hurdles: to succeed, Trump must show a “reasonable person” would conclude from just her remarks – but not any of her actual rulings – that she was unable to preside impartially.