NY Judge: Trump’s Gag Order Breaches May Lead to ‘Jail Time’
New York Supreme Court Judge Issues Gag Order on Trump
New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron recently made headlines when he issued a gag order on both parties involved in a case brought against former President Donald Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The order specifically prohibits any statements that attack the court staff. However, it seems that the Trump legal team may have violated this order, as Judge Engoron called their actions a “blatant violation.”
The judge took swift action and fined President Trump $5,000 for the violation. In a written statement, Judge Engoron emphasized that Trump had been warned multiple times about the consequences of disregarding the gag order. He stated, “This Court is way beyond the ‘warning’ stage.”
Justice Engoron initially issued the gag order on October 3, during the second day of the trial, after President Trump made a post about the judge’s clerk. Although the post was deleted shortly after, it was discovered that it had remained on Trump’s campaign website for 17 days. This revelation led Judge Engoron to express his disappointment in court, stating that it was a clear violation of the order.
The judge revealed that he had emailed the attorneys the previous night, and the offending post was finally removed. However, he expressed his concern over the violation and stated, “I will now allow the defendant to explain why this should not end up with serious sanctions or I could possibly imprison him.”
Trump attorney Christopher Kise apologized in court, claiming it was an oversight rather than an intentional violation. He explained that the post had been copied onto a secondary page of the website and was not deleted when the original post was removed from Truth Social.
Despite the apology, the judge warned that future violations would result in even harsher penalties, including steeper financial fines, holding Trump in contempt of court, and potentially imprisoning him.
The trial, which began on October 2, focuses on the fate of President Trump’s real estate empire. Attorney General Letitia James filed the lawsuit last September, accusing Trump of defrauding the state and causing financial harm to insurers and lenders by inflating his net worth on financial statements.
James is seeking $250 million in damages and aims to prevent Trump and other Trump Organization executives, including his adult sons, from holding executive positions in New York.
In addition to the gag order, Justice Engoron also ordered the disgorgement of the Trump Organization and its related LLCs. However, an appeals court temporarily halted this order to allow the trial to proceed, considering the potential impact on Trump Organization employees.
Throughout the trial, witnesses have testified about the financial statements. Outside accountants admitted to relying on figures provided by Trump Organization executives without conducting independent analyses or audits. A former lender also testified that the financial statements were just one factor considered by Deutsche Bank when assessing the value of Trump Organization properties.
Furthermore, a separate gag order has been imposed on President Trump in a federal criminal case in Washington, D.C. This order restricts both the prosecution and defense from targeting legal teams, court staff, and potential witnesses. While the judge rejected a proposal to limit “inflammatory” statements, she did prohibit all parties from making statements that “target” individuals involved in the case. This order could potentially hinder Trump’s ability to respond to attacks during his 2024 presidential campaign.
It is clear that Judge Engoron is taking these violations seriously and has warned of severe consequences for any future infractions. As the trial continues, the fate of Trump’s real estate empire hangs in the balance.
Source: DocumentCloud
PAA related questions for the title “Enders by inflating the value of his properties. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and the dissolution of the Trump Organization”:
Enders by inflating the value of his properties. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and the dissolution of the Trump Organization.
The gag order issued by Judge Engoron aims to maintain the integrity and fairness of the trial by preventing both parties from making public statements that could prejudice the court proceedings or attack the court staff. Such orders are not uncommon in high-profile cases to ensure that the case is decided based on the evidence presented in court rather than public opinion or media influence.
President Trump’s violation of the gag order raises questions about his respect for the judicial process and the authority of the court. Despite being warned multiple times about the consequences of disregarding the order, he allowed a post attacking the judge’s clerk to remain on his campaign website for 17 days. This blatant violation prompted Judge Engoron to take swift action and issue a $5,000 fine.
In response to the violation, Trump’s attorney apologized in court and claimed it was an oversight rather than an intentional act. He explained that the offending post had unintentionally remained on a secondary page of the website after the original post was deleted. While the apology was acknowledged, Judge Engoron made it clear that future violations would be met with harsher penalties, including steeper financial fines, holding Trump in contempt of court, and potentially imprisoning him.
The trial itself is of significant importance as it delves into allegations of fraud and financial misconduct by President Trump. The lawsuit filed by
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