In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) implored the top Department of Justice official to investigate “a possible criminal deprivation of rights” toward former President Donald Trump in his hush money trial.

Vance was largely referring to Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order on Trump, which has frustrated the presidential candidate and his allies through the trial, which began its jury deliberation phase on Wednesday.

The Ohio senator is one of those prominent allies, and he’s appeared in support of Trump at his New York trial previously. In his letter to Garland, he went even further.

Vance called the New York trial a “kangaroo court” and slammed Merchan repeatedly.

“Merchan has not been content to deprive President Trump of only his First Amendment rights, either,” Vance wrote, adding, “As a criminal defendant, President Trump is entitled to a fair trial by an impartial jury. Merchan has done his best to deprive Trump of both. During jury selection, Merchan refused to dismiss prospective jurors with obvious bias” before naming several instances.

He later accused Merchan of bending over “backwards to allow the prosecution to introduce whatever evidence it wants” and accused the judge’s daughter, Loren, of being a co-conspirator with Merchan and other prosecutors.

The letter could be an attempt by Vance to further his goodwill with Trump, who considers Vance a potential vice presidential pick. The senator said earlier this month that he has not talked with Trump about it but would have to “think seriously about it” if asked.

Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Ben Carson are considered possible candidates too. Trump will likely make his choice before the July 15 start of the Republican National Convention.

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Vance set a June 28 deadline for a response on whether Garland will open a criminal investigation “into the conduct of Juan Merchan and his possible coconspirators.” He also said if Garland does not open an investigation, a future administration, potentially Trump’s, may.

“If you will not open an investigation, please let me know whether you will consider issuing a document-retention request to allow a future administration to consider taking up the case,” he said.