Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked the judge overseeing his civil fraud trial in New York as a “political hack” who is doing dirty work for the Democratic Party.
Mr. Trump complained in a series of social media posts about Judge Arthur Engoron’s decisions moments before his son, Donald Trump Jr., was scheduled to testify in the civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“Engoron is crazy, totally unhinged, and dangerous — Our Judicial System has gone to HELL,” he wrote. “Leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!”
Ms. James’ team will confront Donald Trump Jr., the ex-president’s eldest child, with accusations that the family business manipulated assets on financial forms to gain favorable terms on loans and insurance.
Another of Mr. Trump’s adult children, Eric Trump, is scheduled to testify Thursday, and the ex-president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is scheduled to appear next week.
Before the trial began, Judge Engoron found Mr. Trump liable for misrepresenting the value of some of his properties, handing Ms. James an early victory on one of her claims.
Mr. Trump says he’s done nothing wrong and that Ms. James and the presiding judge do not understand basic real estate practices.
He attacked Judge Engoron in unusually blunt terms Wednesday.
“Judge Engoron is a political hack who ruled against me before the trial even started. He is doing the dirty work for the Democrat Party,” Mr. Trump wrote. “I was not even given the option of a jury, This Rigged Case should have never been brought, but since it was, it should have been in the Commercial Division, but Engoron WOULD NOT LET GO OF IT.”
Mr. Trump also said he hadn’t won a “single motion” and that he’s being “railroaded.”
It is unclear if Judge Engoron will punish Mr. Trump for his social media outbursts.
The judge forbade attacks on court personnel and fined Mr. Trump $15,000 for previous violations, though it was mainly to protect his law clerk.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.