The judge denies Trump’s request for a mistrial.In his motion, the former president claimed that the $250 million civil trial judge was politically biased against him.. The judge ruled that the request was “utterly without merit”.
The New York judge overseeing the former president and his co-defendants’ $250 million civil fraud case rejected the appeal for a mistrial that the former president and his co-defendants had submitted on Friday, calling the defense team’s arguments “utterly without merit.”
Judge Arthur Engoron stated, “I cannot, in good conscience, sign a proposed order to show cause that is wholly without merit, upon which subsequent briefing would therefore be futile.”
The Trump Organization and its top executives, along with Trump and his adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, contended earlier this week that political bias had compromised the case. Specifically, they claimed that Engoron and his law clerk had “tainted the proceedings” and that the evidence was substantial and convincing.
In their 30-page motion for dismissal, they cite news articles that disparage Trump from NPR, The New York Times, and other publications that Engoron shared in his high school alumni newsletter. They also refer to his law clerk’s political contributions to Democratic organizations, which they refer to as “partisan activities.”
They also accused Engoron and his clerk of “co-judging” the case by including pictures of them sitting next to one another.
Such arguments are absurd, according to Engoron.
Last month, after Trump shared a picture of the judge’s law clerk—who also happens to sit next to the judge—with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on social media and called her “Schumer’s girlfriend,” Engoron placed a partial gag order on the former president. The order prohibited public comments regarding Trump’s personnel from being made by the prosecution, defense, or any other side.
As things stand, Trump has already paid $5,000 and $10,000 in fines from Engoron for violating the gag order twice.
In support of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who charged the former president and his business associates with inflating the value of their properties and net worth on financial statements used to secure loans, Engoron has already found Trump and his adult sons liable for fraud and revoked the business certificates used by the Trump Organization. James is requesting $250 million in compensatory damages in addition to a five-year restriction on the Trumps’ ability to serve as executives of a firm located in New York and to conduct business with that company.
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