New York City, NY – Former President Donald Trump expressed his fury at Judge Arthur Engoron in a series of social media posts on Saturday. The judge is presiding over a New York civil fraud case that has the potential to bar Trump from conducting business in the state, where he established his real estate empire.
Prior to the trial, Judge Engoron ruled in favor of the top claim brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James in the civil lawsuit. The judge found that Trump and his company had deceived banks, insurers, and others by overvaluing assets and inflating net worth on financial statements used to secure loans and business deals.
Closing arguments for the remaining claims, including conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records, are scheduled for Thursday. Judge Engoron will also determine the amount of monetary damages. James is seeking over $370 million in penalties, an increase from the original pre-trial figure of $250 million.
Trump, along with his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, vehemently denies any wrongdoing. As the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump has consistently denounced the case as a politically motivated witch hunt orchestrated by James and other Democrats. Trump is currently facing four separate criminal cases as well.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized Judge Engoron multiple times. In one post, he accused the judge of disrespecting the Court of Appeals and claimed that such wrongdoing must not be allowed to take place. He described the situation as “lawlessness” and urged the focus to be on addressing violence on New York streets and preventing an exodus of people, businesses, and wealth from the state.
Trump also argued that his financial statements actually underestimated the value of his properties and downplayed any overestimations as inconsequential to his overall wealth. He claimed that disclaimers on the statements protected him from liability regarding inaccuracies or misstatements.
In another post, Trump highlighted the discrepancy in the valuation of his Mar-a-Lago estate made by Judge Engoron, stating that it was vastly lower than its actual worth. He criticized the absence of a jury or victim in the case, characterizing it as a profit-driven witch hunt.
The former president also reiterated his allegation that Judge Engoron had disregarded an appeals court ruling calling for the dismissal of the case based on the statute of limitations. Trump maintained that the trial should have never taken place and described it as a “pathetic excuse.”
Trump warned that the “Rule of Law in New York State will never recover” if the partisan attack against him is not immediately halted. It is worth noting that the Appellate Division of New York’s Supreme Court did not dismiss the case entirely, but it did rule that claims against Ivanka Trump were barred under the state’s statute of limitations.
As the trial continues, Trump’s social media backlash against Judge Engoron reveals his frustration with the legal proceedings and his determination to overcome the allegations.