In a significant twist to the ongoing New York civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron slapped a $5,000 fine on Trump last Friday. The penalty came in response to a social media post maligning one of the court's clerks, which remained online despite a court directive to have it removed.
The post in question was an insinuation about Allison Greenfield, a principal law clerk, hinting at a relationship between her and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. This allegation, presented without evidence, was supposed to be deleted as per Engoron's directive on October 3rd.
"Future infringements, deliberate or accidental, could lead to heightened consequences, including greater fines, contempt of court charges, or even potential imprisonment," cautioned Justice Engoron, highlighting the gravity of Trump's non-compliance. The recent events underscore the legal avenues judges might take to reprimand Trump, even ahead of judgments in the array of cases against him.
Separately, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Trump to abstain from criticizing participants in his federal trial, which delves into the allegations surrounding his role in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Trump's legal team is challenging this order, stating, "Historically, no American court has ever placed a gag order on a presidential candidate, especially not the primary candidate for the U.S. Presidency."
Engoron flagged the lingering post as a "blatant violation" and expressed concerns over the real-world harm that such "incendiary untruths" might cause. While Trump wasn't present in court, the contentious post was eventually taken down on Thursday.
Interestingly, before its removal, the post was disseminated as an email to Trump's supporters. About 3,700 individuals viewed it on Trump's campaign website, and the email reached roughly 25,800 recipients, shared Christopher Kise, one of Trump's attorneys. Kise offered apologies, describing the oversight as "genuinely inadvertent."
The unfolding drama adds another layer of intrigue to the civil trial in Manhattan, which alleges that Trump and his company provided misleading statements about his assets and net worth to financial institutions. Although Justice Engoron has determined fraudulent activity on Trump's part, the ongoing trial addresses remaining charges like conspiracy and insurance fraud.
Trump continues to refute the allegations, terming the trial a "sham" and part of an extensive "witch hunt." The trial is set to intensify in the coming weeks, with testimonies expected from Trump's close circle, including his two eldest sons. Ivanka Trump, his daughter, is currently resisting a subpoena for her deposition.
As the legal battle rages on, the former president's actions and compliance with court directives will be closely watched, given the potential consequences outlined by Justice Engoron.
