Trump Legal Team Moves to Oust Judge Engoron Over Alleged Misconduct

In a significant turn of events, former President Donald Trump's legal team has filed court documents seeking the removal of Judge Arthur Engoron from the civil fraud case in New York. The move follows allegations of "prohibited communications" between the judge and an outside party, raising serious concerns about judicial conduct and impartiality.

The allegations surfaced after real estate lawyer Adam Bailey claimed in an interview with a local NBC News affiliate that he had spoken to Judge Engoron during the trial. “I actually had the ability to speak to him three weeks ago,” Bailey stated in the February interview. “I saw him in the corner [at the courthouse] and I told my client, ‘I need to go.’ And I walked over and we started talking … I wanted him to know what I think and why…I really want him to get it right.”

Trump’s lawyers argue that these interactions are “fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities attendant to donning the black robe and sitting in judgment.” The court documents highlight that Judge Engoron’s alleged actions violate judicial conduct standards and potentially undermine the integrity of the trial.

Key Points:

• Trump’s legal team is appealing Judge Engoron’s controversial ruling, which found Trump guilty and mandated a nearly half a billion dollar payment to the state.

• The allegations of misconduct include claims that Judge Engoron engaged in prohibited communications about the case, breaching judicial protocols.

• The gravity of the situation is underscored by reports that Judge Engoron is now under investigation by the Commission on Judicial Conduct.

“Specifically, this Court has been publicly accused of engaging in prohibited communications regarding the merits of this case, in clear violation of the Code and this Court’s solemn oath,” the legal team stated. “In sum, this Court appears to have proceeded not only in contravention of controlling law and the Constitution, but perhaps also contrary to the governing standards of judicial conduct.”

The Trump team contends that, at a minimum, the situation creates an "appearance of impropriety" which necessitates Judge Engoron’s removal from the case. This development adds another layer of complexity to a highly publicized legal battle and raises questions about the fairness of the judicial process.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and other significant legal proceedings.

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