Everyone knows Trump’s indictments are politically motivated attacks. But this is so obvious that the Left can’t even pretend to hide it anymore.
And the Trump trial judge’s corruption exposed in shocking exposé.
According to campaign finance records, the New York judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s jury-free fraud trial is a lifelong Democratic supporter who has spent thousands of dollars on partisan political contributions.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who drew fire on Monday for appearing to pose for cameras during the trial, has given completely to Democrats over the last 25 years, with the majority of his contributions going directly to his local Democratic Party committees.
According to New York’s campaign finance database, Engoron has given over $5,000 to candidates and groups, most recently to the Manhattan Democrats in 2018.
Engoron wields unrivaled power over Trump’s legal fate. The case against Trump in New York is being handled as a bench trial, which means he will not only preside over the proceedings, but will also determine guilt and sentence.
Last week, Engoron determined that no trial was required to prove that Trump had persistently committed fraud by overstating the worth of his assets, and he terminated Trump’s licenses to run his New York properties.
The state is now requesting that Engoron impose a huge $250 million penalty and permanently bar Trump from conducting business in New York.
Last week, Trump labeled Engoron a “deranged, Trump-hating judge” who should be removed from the bench. During a brief break in the proceedings on Monday, the former president protested that Engoron had already decided on the matter.
“We’re going to be here for months with a judge that already made up his mind. It’s ridiculous,” Trump said. “He’s a Democrat judge. He’s an operative. And it’s ridiculous.”
According to campaign finance reports, Engoron has only donated to Democrats. Though the majority of his contributions went to local Democratic committees, he also supported Democratic candidates such as former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, former Governor David Paterson, and several state legislators.
The partisan contributions will very certainly fuel claims that this case is being filed for political purposes. Trump supporters said on Monday, with the release of video showing Engoron smiling in court, that the New York judicial system was being weaponized against political opponents.
“To the Left, there are only allies or enemies,” said Stephen Miller, a former adviser in Trump’s White House. “And the more they judge someone the latter, the more they will weaponize the ‘justice’ system against them. This is our brave new world.”
“I’ve never seen anything more inappropriate in my life,” Jesse Binnall, an attorney for Trump but not in the New York fraud case, said during an appearance on Newsmax.
Legal pundit Jonathan Turley also questioned Engoron’s choice to let cameras into the room in the first place.
“People looking at this picture right now will be either filled with rage or thrilled, and that’s a problem,” Turley said as footage rolled that showed the jovial judge smiling in court. “They’re insisting this trial occur during an election. Many people find it troubling.”
Jonathan Turley is "surprised" to see Trump on camera in the courtroom.
"People looking at this picture right now will be either filled with rage or thrilled and that's a problem. They're insisting this trial occur during an election. Many people find it troubling." pic.twitter.com/fFfc4HtbHy
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 2, 2023
Trump currently has a commanding lead in the Republican primary and is largely projected to be the party’s nominee in 2024.
He is now facing legal issues across the country, including a federal investigation into his handling of confidential materials and charges in Georgia for allegedly violating the state’s anti-racketeering law by attempting to change the results of the 2020 election.
In 2022, Engoron stated that Trump invited legal action against him because he was “just a bad guy.”
The court’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the donations.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
