“Such evidence, coupled with an unprecedented departure from standard judicial procedure, has tainted these proceedings and a mistrial is warranted,” argue Trump’s lawyers.
Former President Donald Trump filed for a mistrial on Wednesday in his New York fraud trial, citing “tangible and overwhelming” evidence of bias from the court led by Judge Arthur Engoron.
Trump’s 30-page motion claims Judge Arthur Engoron “tainted” the trial by “publicly commenting” on the proceedings and “co-judging” with his law clerk Allison Greenfield, who is involved with “extensive, public partisan activities.”
NEW: Motion for Mistrial in Letitia James’ fraudulent civil case against President Trump
“There can be no doubt of the public perception of bias in this case…only the grant of a mistrial can salvage what is left of the rule of law.” pic.twitter.com/qJ3jhQqXcc
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) November 15, 2023
Greenfield donated more than “$3,000 to Democrat candidates and organizations in 2022 and over $900 in 2023,” which is above the $500 permitted for court staff in a single year.
“Such evidence, coupled with an unprecedented departure from standard judicial procedure, has tainted these proceedings and a mistrial is warranted,” his lawyers said.
“Specifically, the Court’s own conduct, coupled with the Principal Law Clerk, Allison Greenfield’s (‘Principal Law Clerk’) unprecedented role in the trial and extensive, public partisan activities, would cause even a casual observer to question the Court’s partiality.”
Trump also slammed Engoron’s gag order barring Trump and other parties from speaking publicly about members of his staff to prevent their “impermissible partisan activity” from “becoming public.”
“This Star Chamber approach is particularly indefensible when the gag orders actually shield the Court itself from public criticism for perceived bias—one of the most fundamental rights under the First Amendment,” the lawyers wrote.
“Thus, only the grant of a mistrial can salvage what is left of the rule of law,” the motion added.
The filing doesn’t even get into revelations uncovered by journalist Laura Loomer that Engoron’s wife Dawn allegedly posted a litany of anti-Trump remarks on social media while her husband has been overseeing the case.
Dawn Engoron soon after locked her X account after Loomer exposed it.
EXCLUSIVE: I have Uncovered screenshots from the X account of Dawn Marie Engoron, the wife of Leftist NYC Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the civil fraud against President Trump shows that she has been posting attacks on Trump from her account @dm_sminxs as the trial is… https://t.co/LynqZsciiz pic.twitter.com/07xcIo7Kma
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) November 8, 2023
Does this smiling Democrat judge appear unbiased to you?
Loving the new Donald Trump Show? pic.twitter.com/SQkhbzaMOj
— Rob Israel (@robisraelart) October 2, 2023
Read the filing:
