Judge fines Trump $5,000 for calling his clerk ‘Schumer’s girlfriend’ in now-deleted social post Truth
- Trump Called Judge Engoron’s Clerk, Alison R. Greenfield, ‘Schumer’s Girlfriend’
- Photos of her posing with Democrat Chuck Schumer have been circulating
- The judge said it was a “blatant violation” of the gag order, which prevented Trump from publicly attacking his staff
- The former president is not in court today
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial today fined him $5,000 for calling one of his clerks “Schumer’s girlfriend” in a Truth social post, which the judge said was a “blatant violation” was part of the silence order to which he is bound.
Trump had shared a photo of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron’s law clerk, Alison R. Greenfield, posing with Schumer, a prolific Democrat and one of Trump’s political enemies.
In his now-deleted message, Trump said: “Schumer’s girlfriend, Alison R. Greenfield, is pursuing the case against me. How shameful! This case must be dismissed immediately.”
He removed it, but it also appeared on his campaign website, which the judge objected to.
Donald Trump (pictured in court on Wednesday) has been threatened with fines and prison
Trump posted this on Truth Social, calling one of the judge’s clerks ‘Schumer’s girlfriend’
This photo of the clerk with Chuck Schumer circulated online early in the trial, prompting Trump and his fans to call the entire case a political witch hunt from which Greenfield, the clerk, should be removed.
Judge Engoron raged at Trump’s lawyers in court today: “I will now give defendants the opportunity to explain why this blatant violation of the gag order should not result in serious sanctions, including financial penalties, contempt of Donald Trump or possibly jailing him. ‘
The silence order banned Trump from publicly criticizing the judge’s staff.
Trump’s lawyers claimed it was posted automatically and accidentally.
The former president attended court earlier this week but was not present today.
Judge Arthur F. Engoron issued a gag order banning Trump from attacking his staff
Trump in court with his lawyers earlier this week. He did not return to court today
The New York civil fraud case is just one of Trump’s ongoing legal battles.
He also faces criminal charges of a total of 91 crimes in four cases in New York, Georgia, Florida and Washington.
Today, his former attorney Kenneth Chesebro entered into a plea deal with prosecutors in Georgia.
He pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents.
Prosecutors recommended several years’ probation, $5,000 restitution, and that he write a letter of apology to the citizens of Georgia, thus serving 100 hours of community service.