Former President Donald Trump took aim at New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron in a blistering early morning Truth Social post, blasting the judge as a “political hack” just days before Engoron is set to rule on whether Trump committed civil fraud.
With Engoron’s decision looming, Conservative Brief reported on Friday, January 5, 2024, that Trump unleashed a barrage of accusations against the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the lawsuit against Trump.
He claimed Engoron is “causing grave damage to our Justice System” by refusing Trump’s request for a jury trial and “illegally and unconstitutionally” gagging Trump and his lawyers.
Trump also accused Engoron of ignoring an appellate court decision that struck down parts of James’ lawsuit. He asserted the judge was on a politically-motivated crusade to damage him.
The social media tirade shows Trump’s rising anxiety over Engoron’s impending ruling, which could cost Trump $250 million in fines and bar him from doing business in New York.
After finding Trump liable for fraud last year, Engoron is now deciding the extent of penalties against the former president.
Trump is blasting Engoron as biased and unethical before the judge can levy a potentially massive punishment.
However, legal experts say Trump’s attacks could seriously backfire. His antagonistic approach mirrors that of the defendants in the notorious “Chicago 7” trial, who went out of their way to enrage the judge and paid dearly for it.
Additionally, Engoron has already clashed fiercely with Trump’s legal team in court. Trump’s online insults thrown on top are unlikely to win him any favor when Engoron hands down his ruling.
Rather than thoughtfully appealing to Engoron’s sense of fairness, Trump is instead opting for his typical scorched-earth tactics. But bullying the judge deciding his fate could leave Trump in an even deeper hole.
Trump is clearly rattled as Engoron’s moment of truth draws near. His early morning rant shows he’s in damage control mode trying to preemptively discredit the judge and portray himself as the victim of a political witch hunt.
However, Engoron holds all the cards right now. And Trump’s truth bomb may end up exploding in his own face when the verdict comes down.
Rather than convincing the public of bias, Trump’s attack may only underline his own desperation to avoid accountability.
