Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron imposed a limited gag order in former President Donald Trump’s non-jury civil fraud trial after Trump shared the name and image of the judge’s clerk on social media. The order followed Trump’s post on his Truth Social account, in which he mentioned the judge’s principal law clerk, Allison Greenfield, and suggested that she “hates Trump.” Engoron called such posts “untrue and personally identifying” and issued the gag order, warning of serious sanctions for non-compliance.
Trump’s trial revolves around allegations that he inflated his net worth by as much as $2 billion to secure better loans. New York Attorney General Letitia James seeks to fine Trump $250 million, impose a five-year commercial real estate ban, and bar him and his sons from running businesses in New York. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the trial a continuation of the “greatest witch hunt of all time.”
Engoron’s recent statement that the statute of limitations applies to much of James’ lawsuit does not necessarily mean the case is over, as the judge clarified that statutes of limitations bar claims, not evidence. The trial is expected to continue into December.