Jacob Francy, '26
Former President Trump’s trial where he and his brand are being prosecuted by the state of New York for fraud has gone off the rails.
Letitia James, New York’s Attorney General, has accused Trump, his family business, his adult sons and many other defendants of manipulating financial statements, asset values and Trump's net worth to defraud banks and insurers.
Even before the trial, Donald Trump publicly criticized the judge presiding over the case, Arthur F. Engoron, who has served on New York’s Supreme Court since 2015 after Engoron enforced subpoenas on Trump and his children in February 2022, requiring them to testify under oath in depositions. Then, the following April, Engoron held Trump in contempt for responding to the subpoena past the deadline. He only lifted the order last June after Trump paid the $110,000 fine.
On October 25, 2023, after Trump took the witness stand in his trial, he openly criticized Engoron again. He was fined $15,000 total for twice breaking his gag order by publicly commenting on the judge and trial. Further, on November 6, Trump took the stand again, but this time, he not only fired a shot at the judge, but he once again kept spewing his infamous lies. "Mr. Kise, can you control your client?" Engoron asked Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise. "This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom." Engoron warned Trump’s team again, "We got another speech [from Trump], he told Kise. "I beseech you to control him if you can. If you can't, I will." Indeed, Engoron was forced to control him. Criticizing Trump’s behavior during the trial, Engoron told Trump to his face, “In addition to [your] answers being non-responsive, they are repetitive.”
Trump then went after his prosecutor as well as his judge, who happens to be New York’s Attorney General. Trump said to Engoron, “It’s a terrible thing you’ve done. You know nothing about me, you believe that political hack back there,” he said referring to James, “and that’s unfortunate.” Engoron grew tired of Trump’s immaturity and childish manners, “You can attack me, you can do whatever you want,” he told Trump, “But answer the question.”
It’s obvious what Trump is doing. It’s what he’s been doing since 2015. He has been telling more lies while defending himself. Unfortunately for his supporters, they won’t listen to what they need to hear: the truth. His goal is to continue to ignite the fire in his fanbase, and it’s working. Trump leads Biden in a hypothetical 2024 general election poll by around 5 points.
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