Donald Trump New York Fraud Trial: Judge Receives Bomb Threats While Ex-POTUS Delivers Speech Despite Not Being Allowed To
After not being allowed to deliver closing arguments by the judge in his New York fraud trial over concerns he might turn it into a circus again, Donald Trump still made a speech. During the closing arguments, claiming that the proceedings were "a fraud on me" before being cut off by the judge.
Trump, who previously argued political persecution in the court without presenting actual evidence, claimed he was an innocent man, adding, "I'm being persecuted by someone running for office and I think you have to go outside the bounds."
Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York Supreme Court, however, has issued a preliminary judgment against the former president, ruling that he indeed committed fraud based on evidence already presented. Preliminary rulings are rare, and Trump used the lack of people's knowledge of such rulings to claim he is being persecuted.
Six minutes into Trump's rant, Judge Engoron cut him off and recessed for lunch. He continued complaining to the media, however, claiming, "At this moment, the judge is not letting me make the summation because I'll bring up things he doesn't want to hear," despite Trump merely repeating things he had already said previously.
The judge previously allowed Trump to address the court during the closing arguments but on the condition that he stick to the facts presented during the case and not turn it into a political circus, as he previously did. Trump's lawyer did not agree with this, and thus, the judge decided to cancel the ex-president doing the closing arguments.
Judge in the Donald Trump New York Fraud Trial Received Bomb Threat Before Hearing
While he did not even mention it in court, Judge Arthur Engoron received a bomb threat at his New York home. Authorities had to be called into the New York City suburbs where the judge lived, but according to the Associated Press, these were not able to delay the proceedings as the judge still continued the hearing as planned despite the threat to his life.
READ MORE: Donald Trump Tried To Spread Fake News About New York Judge Overseeing Fraud Trial But Gets Exposed
Donald Trump had been publicly accusing the judge of politically persecuting him in an effort to win the case through the court of public opinion. This has only whipped up his followers as the judge reported receiving death threats amid Donald Trump's attacks.
New York AG Sticks to Evidence in Closing Arguments During Donald Trump New York Fraud Trial
While the president was screaming "political persecution" as the defense presented their closing arguments, New York Attorney General Letitia James stuck to what was presented during the trial.
After the hearing, James spoke with reporters and stated, "This case has never been about politics or personal vendetta or about name-calling, This case is about the facts and the law. And Mr. Donald Trump violated the law."
A lawyer from her office argued in court that "fraud was central to the operation" of Trump's business and asserted that the evidence pointed to Trump purposely misleading banks and the government with inflated asset values to get lower interest rates and lower taxes, thus committing fraud, with the Trump family attempting to shirk their responsibilities.
READ MORE: Donald Trump Received Millions of Dollars From China, Other Countries While US President
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Trump and New York judge have 'contentious exchange' in court, reporter says - CNN
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