Former President Trump’s attorneys have demanded that the judge who presided over his civil fraud trial recuse himself from the case. They claim that the judge engaged in improper discussions regarding the case with an outside party. The demands were made on Thursday and are based on serious allegations.
In a 24-page recusal motion, attorneys Alina Habba and Clifford Robert have come forward with allegations that suggest the Court may have acted in ways that contradict the duties and responsibilities that come with wearing the black robe and serving as a judge.
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In an interview with NBC New York, a prominent New York real estate lawyer revealed that he had approached Judge Arthur Engoron three weeks prior to his ruling on Feb. 16 to provide unsolicited advice regarding the case. This was just before the judge delivered his multimillion-dollar judgment against Trump.
During a recent encounter at the courthouse, Adam Leitman Bailey, a lawyer, approached an individual in the corner, stating to his client that he needed to leave. After initiating a conversation with the individual, Bailey expressed his thoughts and reasons behind his stance, emphasizing the importance of getting things right. As Bailey recounted to NBC New York on February 16th, his main objective was to ensure that the other party understood his perspective.
According to NBC New York, Bailey clarified that during the conversation, they never explicitly mentioned the name “Donald Trump.” However, when asked if it was apparent that they were referring to Trump’s case, the lawyer responded, “Well, it was pretty obvious that we weren’t discussing the Mets.”
According to the outlet, court spokesperson Al Baker stated that Engoron’s decision was solely his own and was thoroughly thought out. He also denied any ex parte conversation where the case was discussed without all parties present, refuting any influence from Bailey.
Last month, a discussion between Bailey and Engoron triggered an investigation into state judicial conduct.
In a statement, Habba emphasized that the New York Code of Judicial Conduct’s primary objective is to guarantee a fair and unbiased trial for all parties involved. However, Habba pointed out that Justice Engoron’s conversations with Attorney Adam Leitman Bailey about the case’s merits directly violate the code, indicating that the judge may not be able to serve as an impartial decision-maker.
She stated that Judge Engoron must recuse himself without any delay.
In February, Engoron ruled that Trump, the Trump Organization, and its top executives had conspired to manipulate the former president’s net worth in order to gain tax and insurance benefits. As a result, they were ordered to pay a total of $464 million, plus interest. Although Trump has filed an appeal, the ruling still stands.
