Bomb threat is made at home of Trump bank fraud judge in Long Island in effort to disrupt trial’s closing arguments: At least six police cars and the bomb squad arrived

A bomb threat was made at the home of the judge who presided over Donald Trump’s bank fraud trial in New York hours before closing arguments.

Police cars were dispatched to Judge Arthur F. Engoron’s Long Island home this morning after someone threatened to blow up the home, the Daily Beast reported. An explosive ordnance disposal squad was also on site.

The threat is seen by some as a tactic to delay closing arguments in what has been a dramatic and heavily politicized trial.

Earlier this week, news broke that the former president would not be allowed to deliver his own closing arguments, a decision that further cemented the politician’s view of Engoron as a “TRUMP HATING JUDGE,” as he posted on Truth Social on Wednesday evening.

The case centered on New York Attorney General Letitia James’s claim that he routinely inflated the value of his assets to obtain fraudulent bank loans and insurance policies during Trump’s real estate career.

Trump, who hosted a town hall in Iowa last night as his rival Republican candidates debated, is expected to appear in court today

Prior to the start of the trial, it was determined that some of James’ claims were true. The proceedings in New York City are taking place primarily to determine the scope of the allegations and how the Republican nominee for president should be punished.

Trump’s New York business empire is at stake as AG James, who has long targeted Trump, his family and their companies in her operations, has asked that he and his companies be fined $370 million.

Earlier this week, Engoron rejected Trump’s request to speak during closing arguments, a plan he had originally approved, according to the Associated Press.

Trump, who was in Iowa last night, is expected to appear in court.

Engoron initially said Trump could speak, but that he would have to adhere to what attorneys say in closing arguments, including “commentary on the relevant, material facts at hand, and the application of the relevant law to those facts.”

The former president would not “comment on irrelevant matters” or “make a campaign speech.”

He also should not criticize the judge, his staff, Attorney General James, her attorneys or the legal system, Engoron wrote, according to the AP.

Trump’s lawyer Christopher Kise told Engoron that these restrictions were unfair and that the ex-president could not agree to them.

This prompted Engoron to quash Trump’s plan.

Trump is a defendant in the case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has increased the fine she wants the ex-president to pay from $250 million

The former president and current Republican front-runner denies any wrongdoing in the fraud case and has condemned the case during his testimony, in the courthouse hallway and on social media

The fraud lawsuit filed by James accuses Trump of inflating the value of properties, including his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, to get better loan terms

Trump has been an outspoken critic of Engoron and James throughout the process and has carried his frustration with him on the campaign trail.

On Friday, after James Engoron asked for him to pay $370 million — up from $250 million — Trump made the decision while campaigning in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Friday evening.

“So if you don’t mind, I was a little angry when I walked in.” Did you notice the anger? Maybe not. But the corrupt AG wants $370 million in compensation for what I did and I did nothing wrong. Nothing,” Trump said. “This is weaponry at a level no one has ever seen.”

Later, at his second rally in Mason City, Iowa, Trump picked on James again, but this time he called her a “big New York slob.”

Trump is barred from destroying court personnel in the case under a silence order upheld by a New York state appeals court in mid-December after he posted a photo of Engoron’s clerk posing with Chuck Schumer, leader of the majority of the Democratic Senate, and falsely claimed she was Schumer’s “girlfriend.”

Thursday’s court appearance will mark the second time Trump has had to leave the presidential campaign trail to address his legal drama ahead of the first contest of 2024, Monday’s caucuses in Iowa.

On Tuesday, Trump returned to Washington, D.C. for a hearing as he tries to win immunity from charges stemming from special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into 2020 and January 6 election interference.

Trump’s 30- to 50-point lead over his Republican primary rivals has given him the ability to appear in and out of court. It is not yet clear how his continued league title commitments will impact a general election campaign.