Judge Reprimands Trump for Targeting His Clerk on Social Media

In a significant courtroom development, Judge Arthur Engoron admonished former President Donald Trump for a social media post that disparaged his clerk. The judge subsequently issued an order prohibiting all involved parties from making public comments about his staff.

Judge Engoron expressed his disapproval in court, stating, “Personal attacks of any member of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate and I will not tolerate them.” He further warned of "serious sanctions" for any breaches of this directive.

The controversy began when Trump posted on Truth Social, alleging a relationship between Engoron’s clerk and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York. Trump's post included a photograph of the two together, accompanied by a call for the immediate dismissal of his case.

The nature of the relationship between Schumer and the clerk, beyond the shared photograph, remains unclear.

This incident occurred amidst a civil trial in New York, where Attorney General Letitia James has accused Trump and co-defendants of fraud, alleging they inflated assets to secure favorable terms on real estate loans and insurance policies. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit Trump from conducting business in New York.

Earlier in the week, Trump had also made indirect references to the clerk outside the courtroom, hinting at her influence over the judge.

Judge Engoron, addressing the ongoing trial, reminded Trump's legal team that the trial court isn't the place to challenge decisions he has already made, pointing out the existence of appellate courts for such purposes.

The judge also clarified his stance on the admissibility of evidence and testimony related to financial statements from before 2014, emphasizing that the attorney general's lawsuit focuses on the financial statements that reference those transactions, which took place after 2014.

Exiting the courtroom on Monday, Trump inaccurately claimed that a significant portion of the attorney general’s case had been dismissed due to the statute of limitations.

In a recent development, Trump confirmed his intention to testify during the trial, a move anticipated by both the state and his defense team.