The gag order prohibits President Trump from making any public statements about Judge Engoron’s staff.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) filed a judicial complaint against the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case, accusing him of issuing an “illegal” gag order against a candidate running in the presidential elections.
On Tuesday, the State of New York Court of Appeals dismissed President Trump’s appeal against a gag order related to his civil fraud trial in New York. The order was initially imposed by Justice Arthur Engoron on Oct. 3 after the former president accused a top clerk with the judge of being politically biased. The order prohibits the former president from making public statements about the judge’s staff. On Friday, Ms. Stefanik filed a judicial complaint against Judge Engoron with the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
She challenged the New York Court of Appeals’ dismissal of President Trump’s appeal against the gag order. “The Court dodged addressing a crucial issue, which has ramifications for all New Yorkers. Simply stated, it is unacceptable that any judge in America would place an unconstitutional gag order on a defendant,” the complaint said.
“If there is anyone who must have the constitutional right to speak out against the judge, court staff, prosecutor, and process, it is a defendant going through a process he believes has been politicized and weaponized against him,” it said.
Ms. Stefanik called Judge Engoron’s order “election interference” and said that “Illegally gagging a presidential candidate … is shocking and appalling.” She warned that the decision “undermines the public’s faith and confidence in our New York courts.”
“Judge Engoron’s political show trial is coming to a close, and I urge your office to stop this grotesque miscarriage of justice,” she requested.
On Nov. 17, a second complaint detailed “illegal political donations and other illegal, biased misconduct” by the judge and his staff.
Gag Order
The civil fraud case that led to Ms. Stefanik’s complaint was brought against President Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The lawsuit alleged that President Trump engaged in persistent fraud through the financial statements of the Trump Organization that were published between 2011 and 2021.
