Former President Donald Trump’s legal team is seeking to have the judge who presided over Trump’s civil fraud trial recused, claiming that the judge improperly discussed the case with a lawyer before ordering Trump to pay over $450 million. The lawyers allege that the conversation between real estate lawyer Adam Leitman Bailey and Judge Arthur Engoron violated the judicial code of conduct, as judges are generally not supposed to communicate about the merits of a case without both parties present. Bailey, in an interview with NBC New York, stated that he provided advice to Judge Engoron on how to apply the law in the Trump fraud case before the ruling was issued.
Following the release of the NBC interview, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct launched an investigation into Bailey’s comments to determine if Judge Engoron violated the judicial code of conduct. Trump’s legal team has requested an evidentiary hearing if Engoron does not recuse himself. Bailey, in response to the situation, stated that he did not believe his conversation with Judge Engoron was wrong and that he was simply citing case law and offering his expertise as a real estate expert.
Trump has appealed the ruling against him in the fraud case, in which Judge Engoron found that Trump knowingly engaged in fraud by misstating the value of his assets in financial filings. This case is part of a broader investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office. Trump has been ordered to pay $454.2 million plus interest in this case, adding to his mounting legal bills. Trump has also been fined for violating a gag order placed against him and has accused Judge Engoron of bias, leading to further legal challenges.
Throughout his legal battles, Trump has attacked multiple judges, including Judge Juan Merchan who oversaw a criminal hush money trial involving Trump. Trump has faced scrutiny for his attacks on judges in various cases, including those involving Judges Lewis Kaplan, Tanya Chutkan, and Gonzalo Curiel. Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Trump’s net worth has plummeted, with Forbes estimating it at $4.9 billion, a decrease of over $2 billion in a month due to declines in his media company’s stock.
The situation with Judge Engoron and the allegations of improper communication with a lawyer add another layer of complexity to Trump’s legal troubles. The request for recusal and potential evidentiary hearing further prolong the resolution of the fraud case, which has already led to significant financial penalties for Trump. The ongoing investigations and legal battles continue to impact Trump’s reputation and financial standing, with uncertainty surrounding the ultimate outcome of these legal challenges.
