Judge rejects Trump’s latest demand to step aside from hush money criminal case

Sentencing of Donald Trump could begin next month (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Former US president Donald Trump has lost his latest bid for a new judge in his hush money case, as it heads toward a key ruling and potential sentencing next month.

Judge Juan M Merchan on Wednesday declined to step aside, rejecting the third such request from lawyers for the Republican presidential nominee.