Judge imposes gag order on Trump in fraud trial

Judge issues gag order in Trump's fraud trial, warning against personal attacks on court staff; Trump called judge "rogue" and AG "corrupt."

Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the fraud trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York, issued a stern warning on Tuesday regarding personal attacks on his court staff. In response to an attack on one of his staffers on social media, the judge issued a gag order, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable. He made it clear that all parties involved are forbidden from publicly posting, emailing, or speaking about any of his staff.

The incident that prompted this warning occurred when Trump posted a picture of one of Judge Engoron's clerks, referring to her as the girlfriend of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The judge reminded Trump that personal attacks on his court staff will not be tolerated.

In addition to targeting the judge's staff, Trump also criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James, accusing her of corruption and incompetence. He expressed his frustration with the charges brought against him and called for the case to be dismissed immediately. However, he later deleted the post.

It's important to note that the gag order issued by Judge Engoron only applies to his staff and not to the judge himself. The case revolves around allegations that Trump, his sons, and executives at his company inflated the projected value of assets. Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $250 million in penalties and the removal of the accused individuals from their executive positions.

Last week, Judge Engoron ruled that Trump and his sons had engaged in financial fraud over a period of years. Trump, who is also facing several criminal trials, has criticized these legal proceedings as a witch hunt against him in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.