Have any credible allegations or investigations accused Judge Merchan of taking bribes?

1. What critics actually allege: political bias and conflicts, not bribery

Critics named in the record — most prominently former President Donald Trump, Rep. Elise Stefanik and allied commentators — have accused Judge Merchan of bias, conflicts of interest, and “corruption,” citing his daughter’s political work and small past political donations, but these claims are framed as political or ethical complaints rather than as criminal bribery allegations ^{[6] [7] [2] [3]}. Republican House Judiciary Committee materials characterize Merchan’s rulings as “egregious” and part of a larger political narrative, but do so in a partisan report, not as evidence of bribery ^[4].

2. Formal ethics scrutiny that exists: complaints and a caution, not criminal charges

The record shows formal steps short of criminal investigation: Rep. Stefanik filed ethics complaints accusing Merchan of conflicts tied to family connections and fundraising; Newsweek and Axios report those complaints and note the judge declined to recuse himself ^{[2] [3]}. A New York judicial oversight action produced a confidential “caution” about prohibited small political donations he made in 2020 (totaling $35), but the Commission on Judicial Conduct dismissed the complaint publicly and did not levy public discipline in the available reporting ^[1]. None of the cited sources describe a criminal bribery probe or credible evidence of payments to Merchan.

3. How officials and panels responded: advisory guidance and rebuffs to recusal demands

When asked to step aside, Judge Merchan rejected demands to recuse and the New York court system’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics previously issued guidance that permitted him to continue on the case; reporting highlights that the Advisory Committee’s view and the judge’s own statements undercut the claim he must be removed ^{[5] [3]}. The Commission on Judicial Conduct’s handling of the small donations produced a confidential disposition and a public note that judges sometimes make prohibited contributions — a compliance matter, not a bribery finding ^[1].

4. The partisan context: competing agendas shape the accusations

Many allegations come from actors with explicit political motives: Trump and his allies attacked Merchan after adverse rulings; Republican lawmakers and conservative outlets framed complaints as systemic “weaponized lawfare” ^{[6] [7] [8] [4]}. Conversely, nonpartisan and mainstream outlets described Merchan as a “no‑nonsense” judge and reported that prosecutors rejected claims of impropriety as “a daisy chain of innuendos,” showing reporting differences tied to political perspective ^{[6] [9]}.

5. What the sources do not say: no published bribery accusations or investigations

Across these reports there is no mention of evidence that Judge Merchan accepted bribes, nor of a criminal bribery investigation targeting him; available sources do not mention such allegations or charges (available sources do not mention bribery allegations or an active bribery investigation) ^{[1] [2] [3] [6]}.

6. How to interpret the record: weigh ethics vs. criminal standards

The material in the record documents ethics complaints, partisan attacks, and a disclosure about small, improper political donations that prompted a confidential caution — conduct that can raise questions about impartiality but is materially different from allegations of taking bribes, which would require evidence of corrupt payments and criminal inquiry ^{[1] [2]}. Where political actors call for disbarment or recusal, readers should note the political stakes and that oversight bodies reviewed or declined public sanctions in the accounts cited ^{[3] [1]}.

7. Bottom line and suggested next steps for readers

Based on the provided reporting, there are no credible, reported allegations or formal investigations accusing Judge Merchan of taking bribes; the record instead shows political accusations, ethics complaints, and a regulatory caution about small political donations ^{[2] [1] [3]}. For anyone seeking definitive proof of bribery or an active criminal probe, follow updates from neutral oversight bodies (New York’s Commission on Judicial Conduct and court system advisories) and mainstream reporting, since the sources here do not report such an investigation (available sources do not mention a bribery probe) ^{[1] [5]}.