Former President Donald Trump has attacked New York AG Letitia James as an “incompetent” and called his fraud trial a “disgrace,” a day after a Supreme Court judge imposed a partial gag order on him.
Trump also took aim at Judge Arthur Engoron, a day after the judge ordered him to suppress online attacks on his own clerk.
Trump accused the judge of participating in “election interference,” which he said was taking orders from national Democrats.
‘They made up a fake case, scammers, and the judge already knows what he’s going to do. He’s a Democratic judge, in fairness to him. He has no choice.’
“It’s run by the Democrats,” Trump complained. “He is being monitored and that is a shame.”
After making the angry statement, Trump left the courthouse for the day, during a contentious day in court where his lawyers were able to undermine the accountant from the Mazars firm that handled his account.
He said he would rather be on the campaign trail — even as he voluntarily appeared in court for the third day in a row.
Former President Donald Trump attacked AG Letitia James on the third day of his civil fraud trial in New York, a day after a judge imposed a gag order on him
“I’d rather be in New Hampshire or South Carolina or Ohio or a lot of other places. But I’m stuck here because I have a corrupt attorney general who communicates with the DOJ in Washington to stay busy,” he said.
Trump was back in court for the third day in a row on Wednesday, once again mauling his opponents.
The judge imposed a limited gag order on him, ordered him not to personally attack court staff and told him the ‘disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post.”
Trump had called Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s law clerk the “girlfriend” and posted a link to her Instagram account while attacking her leadership of a judge he called “deranged.” On Tuesday, he also called James a “monster” and a “deranged lunatic.”
The judge said in court Tuesday: “Consider this statement an injunction prohibiting all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about members of my staff.
He said failure to comply “will result in severe sanctions.”
After taking down the post, Trump focused much of his fire on James — while also accusing her of pursuing an unconstitutional prosecution by bringing a case under New York Executive Law.
Trump also specifically took on legal critics who have faulted his own attorney, Alina Habba, for failing to check a box asking for a jury trial in the case.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the trial, in which Judge Engoron will review James’ request for $250 million in damages, as unfair.
“This witch hunt has continued using statute 63 (12). Consumer Fraud Statute. It doesn’t allow juries, it doesn’t allow me anything. We have a prosecutor Letitia James who is incompetent,” he said angrily, accusing her of forcing companies to leave the state while “violent crime in particular is rampant.”
‘So I don’t like this witch hunt. That can’t be possible (because) someone didn’t check a box. Has nothing to do with it. Under the age of 63 (12) you are not entitled to a jury. The first time it’s been used for a purpose like this. Never used. They used it against me, the former president, the leading candidate, who led Joe Biden by a wide margin, and that’s probably why all this is happening. Probably not – they are absolutely 100 percent coordinating with Washington.”
“This trial is a disgrace,” Trump said.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba has denied the criticism. “I didn’t forget to check a box,” she told Fox News.
Trump was back in court on Wednesday, along with attorney Chris Kise and Alina Habba. A judge imposed the ban after Trump attacked his law clerk online
Trump lawyer Alina Habba (right) has denied causing the non-jury trial by not checking a box asking for a jury
Fox contributor Leo Terrell, a lawyer and talk host, said there are “usually forms where you have to do a check,” and said he was “baffled” at Trump’s legal team for failing to do so to appeal a non-jury trial.
Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman called the decision “baffling” after Judge Engoron said in court that a jury trial had not been requested.
‘I had heard this rumor and now the judge has just confirmed it. It’s stunning. That Trump has his fate in the hands of this judge, whom he has slandered, is malpractice by his lawyers and very ominous for him. wrote on X, the former Twitter site.
Trump called his prosecution “the beginning of communism.”
Trump again defended his financing deals with lenders, pointing to disclaimers in asset valuations his company provided.
“You borrow money, you pay it back, and you get sued by a political animal. That’s where we are,” he said.
If Trump is found to violate the gag order, he could face up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
It came after him Alison Greenfield, Engoron’s clerk, attacked – and called her Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s “girlfriend.”
He had claimed that she ‘is pursuing this case against me’. How disgraceful!’ and posted a link to her Instagram account.
Trump’s comments came in a courthouse tirade in which he said he was “open” to becoming speaker of the House of Representatives after a handful of right-wing Republicans put forward his name for the top position.
“A lot of people have asked me about it,” Trump said during a press conference Wednesday morning.
“We are ahead by about 50 points as president. My focus is entirely on that. If I can help them through the process, I would. But we have some great people in the Republican Party. They will do an excellent job as speakers,” he continued.
“I will do whatever it takes to help, but my focus is on the presidency,” Trump added.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy was impeached in a historic vote on a motion to evict filed by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to oust their leader, making McCarthy the shortest-lived speaker in 140 years and the first ever to be ousted mid-term.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote on a motion to evict filed by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz claimed he had Trump’s support in his efforts, but Trump posted on Truth Social in the middle of the drama: “Why are the Republicans always fighting among themselves, why don’t they fight the radical left Democrats who are destroying democracy?” our country?’
But under the Republican Party’s own bylaws, Trump would be barred from holding the top job.
“A member of the Republican Leadership will step aside if charged with a crime punishable by a prison sentence of two or more years,” the Republican Conferences said.
“The only candidate for chairman that I currently support is President Donald J. Trump,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote on X.
“@realDonaldTrump as speaker,” added Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla.
“Kevin McCarthy will NOT serve as chairman again. I nominate Donald J. Trump to be Speaker of the House of Representatives,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas.
But Trump has been indicted four times in the past six months. He has been indicted on 91 federal and state charges and could face hundreds of years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Two of the cases are federal: one involves his handling of classified documents and one involves his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
There is no consensus yet on who will become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Since McCarthy’s outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan emerged as front-runners to take the top job, they have begun calling rank-and-file offices to gauge support.
Rep. Kevin Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and Whip Tom Emmer have also hinted at interest in the role and have made calls to several offices.