Jack Smith was just a hired gun. He is a mercenary who was paid to do a job and he did it, albeit with a very bumbling effort. But with Merchan it was all vindictive and personal.
Merchan has to be shitting bricks these days. No doubt he is taking Ambien with drinks to sleep, thinking about what is coming to him.
It is not only that he was a judge in one of Trump's witch trails. It is more about the hubris and arrogance with which he persecuted Trump.
Not only was the entire charge a farce. Not only did Merchan have a dozen or more conflicts of interest with the case. Not only did Merchan deny EVERY objection from Trump's team while allowing the prosecution everything.
All of that is bad enough of course. But the worst part of "Lord Merchan of the Bench" was the open maliciousness and giddiness with which Merchan legally flogged President Trump at every chance. Merchan took glee in it. With Merchan it was very, deeply, personal. That is what is going to sink him.
Would hate to be Jaun Merchan these days. It must be like waiting on death row. Watching the clock tick by hour by hour and day by day, all the while knowing that your fate is sealed. It is only a matter of time.