NEW YORK (Reuters) – In a civil fraud case involving his family’s real estate company, Donald Trump’s legal team is pushing for a mistrial. However, the likelihood of a new trial is slim.
Trump’s lawyers argue that the judge overseeing the case, Justice Arthur Engoron, and his law clerk have compromised the fairness of the proceedings. They claim that Engoron’s postings of “disparaging” news articles about Trump and others, as well as the law clerk’s involvement in the case, have raised questions about impartiality.
After Trump testified earlier this month, one of his lawyers, Alina Habba, stated in court that they plan to move for a mistrial. However, the motion may be complicated due to a gag order imposed by Engoron on Nov. 4, which covers the judge’s communications with his staff.
The gag order was initially imposed after Trump shared a photo of the judge’s principal law clerk with U.S. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer and falsely labeled her as Schumer’s “girlfriend.”
Trump’s legal team objected to the clerk passing notes to the judge during the trial, leading to an expanded gag order that now covers the lawyers as well.
Despite the push for a mistrial, it is unlikely that Engoron will grant one, especially given his prior fraud findings and defense of his law clerk’s conduct.
With Trump facing multiple other criminal and civil cases scheduled for trial starting in January, the timing of a potential retrial remains uncertain.
The lawsuit, filed by Democratic New York state Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump of inflating the value of his properties to secure better financing terms. Engoron has already found Trump and his companies liable for fraud, potentially putting control of some of his properties in jeopardy.
Trump defended his business practices on the stand and labeled the case as “election interference.”
(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
