Donald Trump’s upcoming fraud trial in New York has hit a temporary pause as the former president took an unusual step by directly suing the presiding judge, Justice Arthur Engoron. This legal move has thrown the trial, stemming from a New York fraud case against Trump and his family business, into uncertainty, as it was originally slated to commence on October 2.
In his lawsuit, Trump, aged 77, accused Justice Engoron of defying a court order issued in June that could have narrowed the scope of the case against him. Additionally, Trump’s legal team raised concerns about the judge’s refusal to grant a three-week trial delay. As a result, an appeals judge has granted a temporary stay of the trial and referred the matter to a five-judge panel. This panel is expected to render a decision by the end of September, determining whether the non-jury trial can still proceed on the scheduled date.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is overseeing the case, remains confident in their position. She asserts that a substantial body of evidence demonstrates how Trump and his associates provided false information about his assets and net worth, potentially inflating these figures by up to $3.6 billion (£2.9 billion). This alleged deception was purportedly done to secure more favorable loan and insurance terms. As a consequence, James seeks a $250 million (£201.3 million) fine and aims to bar Trump and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, from holding leadership roles in the family business.
Donald Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has labeled the case as part of a Democratic “witch hunt.” In previous testimony, he downplayed the credibility of his financial statements, suggesting they contained disclaimers cautioning against trust in their accuracy. He even urged James to drop the case, emphasizing that the banks involved were fully paid and had profited from their dealings with him.
Notably, Trump, a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, is facing multiple legal challenges in various states. He recently commented that it’s “very unlikely” he would pardon himself if re-elected, despite having been presented with that option toward the end of his first term.