Isaac Schorr |
Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the state of New York’s civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, has asked Trump’s counsel to “control” him and threatened to remove him if he continues to avoid answering the prosecution’s questions.
Trump and his business partners are alleged to have overestimated the value of the Trump Organization in order to secure loans and reap other financial benefits.
The former president took the witness stand on Monday after months of launching attacks against prosecutors, Engoron, and the judge’s staff on social media. Trump has called Engoron a “Trump hater” and “rogue judge,” while also complaining about “his associate” — a court worker — “screaming into his ear on almost every time we ask a question.”
Engoron later imposed a gag order on Trump after he posted a picture of and attacked one of Engoron’s clerks.
In his less than an hour on the stand so far Monday, Trump has repeatedly launched into monologues, causing Engoron to repeatedly instruct him to answer the questions he’s asked.
After one such exchange, Trump reportedly remarked that he was “sure the judge will rule against” him because Engoron “always” does.
“You can attack me, you can do whatever you want, but answer the question,” shot back Engoron after urging Trump’s legal team to get him in line.
“You can attack me, you can do whatever you want. But answer the question,” Judge Engoron tells Trump.
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