The escalating tension surrounding former President Donald Trump's bank fraud trial in New York took a disturbing turn when a bomb threat was reportedly made at the home of Justice Arthur F. Engoron, the judge presiding over the case. This alarming incident occurred just hours before the trial's final hearing, heightening concerns over the safety of those involved in the high-profile legal proceedings.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the threat was perceived as an attempt to disrupt the closing arguments of a trial that has put Trump's real estate empire under scrutiny. Over the past months, New York Attorney General Letitia James has presented evidence alleging Trump's involvement in over a decade of bank fraud by inflating the value of his properties to acquire loans and insurance policies.
Engoron, who has been targeted by Trump supporters with death threats and faced personal attacks from the former president himself, found his Long Island home besieged by police and a bomb squad on Thursday morning. A Nassau County Police Department spokesperson confirmed an "active investigation" but did not specify the nature of the probe.
Here’s Justice Arthur F. Engoron, the wino judge who ruled that our favorite President Donald J Trump committed fraud on his properties
This trial today is a complete fraud and must immediately go to appeal, and it should NEVER have been brought in the first place. It’s … pic.twitter.com/7r31v6P5uV — Todd With Trump (@THeinrich22) October 2, 2023
This incident is not isolated. It follows recent swatting attempts against other judges and legal figures involved in cases related to Trump. Just days earlier, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing a case concerning Trump's alleged crimes linked to the 2020 presidential election and the Capitol riot, was targeted in a similar swatting incident. Additionally, Jack Smith, the Department of Justice special counsel prosecuting Trump in federal criminal cases, was also a target of an attempted swatting on Christmas Day.
The threats against legal figures handling Trump-related cases have raised serious concerns about the security and impartiality of the judiciary. Al Baker, a spokesman for the New York state court system, acknowledged the heightened security measures around the trial and the increased security protocols for Justice Engoron's safety.
The trial, despite the threat, proceeded as scheduled, with Trump attending the closing arguments. The defense's closing was marked by controversy when Engoron denied a request from Trump's lawyer, Chris Kise, to allow the former president to participate in the closing arguments. Kise had refused to confirm whether Trump would adhere to the judge's restrictions on what could be said during the proceedings.
As the trial draws to a close, the implications for Trump's business empire and political future remain uncertain. The heightened security measures and ongoing threats underscore the intense scrutiny and polarizing nature of the case, reflecting the broader divisions and volatile political climate in the United States.
