Judge Arthur Engoron said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect Donald Trump to deliver closing arguments in the $370 million New York civil fraud trial brought against him by Attorney General Letitia James because the former president had not agreed to stringent rules the jurist had laid out.
“Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow,” Engoron wrote.
The thought of Trump speaking his mind was anathema to prosecutors, too. "Allowing Mr. Trump to present closing argument will invite more speeches that will ‘unduly disrupt’ the proceedings,” state lawyer Andrew Amer said in an email last Thursday.
I just want to remind everyone that the bank Donald Trump is accused of defrauding literally said during this trial that they did diligence for the loans they gave his business, that Trump paid the loans, that the bank made big profit, and executives were happy. https://t.co/b8OebHnDZe
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 10, 2024
Engoron had ruled that the former president could deliver arguments, but only if he did it exactly the way the judge wanted it:
Engoron replied that he would allow Trump to make a closing argument if he promised on the record to “limit his subjects” to what is permissible in a lawyer’s closing argument.
“He may not seek to introduce new evidence. He may not ‘testify.’ He may not comment on irrelevant matters,” Engoron wrote in the email. “In particular, and without limitation, he may not deliver a campaign speech, and he may not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff’s staff, or the New York State Court System, none of which is relevant to this case, and all of which, except commenting on my staff, can be done, and is being done, in other forums.”
In other words, he can’t tell his side of the story.
The judge further threatened that if Trump didn’t toe the line, he would “cut him off in mid-sentence and admonish him” or end his closing argument altogether, fine him, and ban him from any further speaking in the courtroom.
Trump attorney Chris Kise argued that the conditions were unfair and were “fraught with ambiguities, creating the substantial likelihood for misinterpretation … or unintended violation.”
Trump had also asked for a delay in closing arguments, considering his mother-in-law Amalija Knavs just passed away this week. The judge denied that request too. Nice.
Here’s one back-and-forth between Kise and Engoron showing just how “unbiased” and “judicial” the judge is:
“This is very unfair, your honor,” Kise said in a Jan. 10 email. “You are not allowing President Trump, who has been wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control, politically motivated Attorney General, to speak about the things that must be spoken about.”
“I won’t debate this yet again. Take it or leave it. Now or never,” Engoron replied. “You have until noon, seven minutes from now. I WILL NOT GRANT ANY FURTHER EXTENSIONS.”
This case has been a political farce since its inception, and Letitia James ran for her office with the sole purpose of “getting Trump.” These, excuse me, trumped-up charges in which there are no victimized parties are simply an attempt to ruin the former president, and Judge Engoron seems more than happy to play along.
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New York AG Letitia James' Penalty Request Jumps From $250M to $370M in Trump Civil Fraud Case
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