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Former President Donald Trump has publicly denounced Judge Arthur Engoron as a “complete and total puppet” of New York Attorney General Letitia James in his ongoing New York civil fraud trial.
On Truth Social, Trump accused both Engoron, who he described as the “most overturned and stayed Judge in the State,” and James, labeled as the “most corrupt & incompetent AG in the Country,” of fraudulently undervaluing his properties. Trump claims this is an attempt to validate the judge’s initial fraud finding against him.
Trump’s criticism follows the temporary removal of a gag order that had restricted him and his attorneys from discussing the case publicly. This follows a rejected mistrial motion, where Trump claimed bias from the trial judge and his law clerk had adversely influenced the case. “This Judicial and Prosecutorial corruption and misconduct took place BEFORE THE TRIAL EVEN STARTED, & WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE,” Trump declared, insisting Engoron acted under James’ influence.
New York Representative Elise Stefanik, a passionate supporter of Trump, has amplified these claims, adding to her ethics complaint against Judge Engoron. She alleges the judge improperly dismissed Trump’s mistrial motion. Trump took to social media post-gag order lift, critiquing Engoron’s repeated overturns by the appellate court and condemning the judge’s “Ridiculous and Unconstitutional Gag Order.” He lambasted the judge and his clerk for alleged political bias and incompetence.
Despite Trump’s vehement objections, Engoron has already found Trump and his business liable for fraud.
The case, spearheaded by Attorney General James, alleges the Trump Organization manipulated asset values for favorable tax and insurance benefits. The prosecution seeks $250 million in financial penalties and aims to restrict Trump and his adult children from operating businesses in New York.
