Former President Donald Trump’s defense team filed a motion for mistrial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’s civil fraud prosecution against him. At the core of the filing is the ongoing concern Trump and his lawyers have over public perception and political bias – especially as it pertains to Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the case, and his law clerk Allison Greenfield.
“This appearance of bias threatens both Defendants’ rights and the integrity of the judiciary as an institution,” Trump’s attorneys argued in the filing, adding: “Greenfield’s unprecedented role in the trial and extensive, public partisan activities, would cause even a casual observer to question the court’s partiality. Thus, only the grant of a mistrial can salvage what is left of the rule of law.”
On multiple occasions Trump’s legal team has raised issue with Greenfield passing notes to Judge Engoron while the court was in session and exercising an unusual degree of authority in the court’s decision making process. Greenfield, Trump’s lawyers argue, is essentially “Co-Judging” the proceedings. Additionally, the political connections Greenfield has with prominent Democrat politicians has also been a point of contention.
NEW: Motion for Mistrial in Letitia James’ fraudulent civil case against President Trump
“There can be no doubt of the public perception of bias in this case…only the grant of a mistrial can salvage what is left of the rule of law.” pic.twitter.com/qJ3jhQqXcc
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) November 15, 2023
New York’s Democrat Attorney General Letitia James alleges former President Trump instructed aides in the Trump Organization to produce false estimates for the value of his properties in an effort to inflate his collateral and secure more lucrative loans from financial institutions. Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for Trump, was considered a star witness for James’s prosecution and was expected to corroborate the allegations of financial fraud. However when Cohen took the stand and was asked if Trump had directed him to produce fraudulent financial numbers, he admitted, “Trump did not specifically say, ‘Michael, go inflate the numbers.'” Cohen went on to admit Trump had not asked him to commit financial fraud.