- Trump railed against his prosecution in New York, calling the trial a ‘disgrace’
- He called state AG Letitia James ‘incompetent’
- Judge slapped gag order on him following attack on his clerk
By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 12:53 EDT, 4 October 2023 | UPDATED: 13:49 EDT, 4 October 2023
Former President Donald Trump attacked New York AG Letitia James as an ‘incompetent’ and called his fraud trial a ‘disgrace,’ a day after a state Supreme Court judge slapped a partial gag order on him.
Trump also tore into Judge Arthur Engoron, a day after the judge ordered him to take down online attacks on his own clerk.
Trump accused the judge of taking part in ‘election interference’ who he described as taking orders from national Democrats.
‘They made up a fake case, fraudulent people, and the judge already knows what he’s going to do. He’s a Democrat judge, in all fairness to him. He has no choice.’
‘He’s run by the Democrats,’ Trump complained. ‘He’s controlled and it’s a shame.’
After making the angry statement, Trump left the courthouse for the day, during a contentious day in court where his lawyers were able to undercut the accountant for the Mazars firm that handled his account.
He said he would rather be on the campaign trail – even though he made a voluntary appearance in court for the third consecutive day.
Former President Donald Trump tore into AG Letitia James on the third day of his civil fraud trial in New York, a day after a judge slapped a gag order on himTrump says he’ll ‘do whatever is best’ when asked about Speaker
‘I’d rather be in New Hampshire or South Carolina, or Ohio or a lot of other places. But I’m stuck here because I have a corrupt attorney general that communicates with the DOJ in Washington to keep it nice and busy,’ he said.
Trump was back in court for his third consecutive day Wednesday, ripping his adversaries once again.
The judge imposed a limited gag, ordering him not to personally attack court staff, and telling him to delete the ‘disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post.’
Trump had called the clerk Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s ‘girlfriend’ and posted a link to her instagram account while attacking her guidance to a judge he has called ‘deranged.’ He also on Tuesday called James a ‘Monster’ and a ‘Deranged Lunatic.’
The judge said in court Tuesday: ‘Consider this statement an order forbidding all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about any members of my staff.
He said failure to abide by it ‘will result in serious sanctions.’
After taking the post down, Trump trained much of his fire on James – while also accusing her of bringing an unconstitutional prosecution by bringing a case under New York Executive Law.
Trump also specifically took on legal critics who have faulted his own attorney, Alina Habba, for failing to check a box requesting a jury trial in the matter.
Trump has repeatedly attacked the trial, where Judge Engoron will decide on James’ request for $250 million in damages, as unfair.
Trump left court for the day after the angry tirade
‘This witch hunt has gone on using statute 63 (12). Consumer fraud statute. It doesn’t allow any juries, doesn’t allow me anything. We have a prosecutor Letitia James who is incompetent,’ he fumed, accusing her of forcing companies to abandon the state while ‘violent crime in particular runs rampant.’
‘So this witch hunt does not allow me a hearing. That can’t be possible [because] somebody didn’t check a box. Has nothing to do with it. Under 63 (12) you are not entitled to a jury. First time it’s ever been used for a purpose like this. Never been used. They used it on me, the former president, the leading candidate, leading Joe Biden by a lot, which is probably why this is all happening. Not probably – definitely they are coordinating with Washington 100 per cent.’
‘This trial is a disgrace,’ Trump said.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba has denied the criticism. ‘I didn’t forget to check a box,’ she said on Fox News.
Trump was back in court Wednesday along with lawyer Chris Kise and Alina Habba. A judge imposed the gag after Trump attacked his clerk online
Trump lawyer Alina Habba, right, has denied being the cause of the non-jury trial by failing to check a box requesting a jury
Fox contributor Leo Terrell, a lawyer and talk host, said there ‘usually are some forms where you have to make a check,’ and said he was ‘perplexed’ at Trump’s legal team for failing to appeal a non-jury trial.
Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman called the decision ‘mind-blowing’ after Judge Engoron said in court that a jury trial had not been requested.
‘I had heard this rumor, and now the judge just confirmed it. It is mind-blowing. For Trump to have his fate in the hands of this judge, whom he has vilified, is malpractice by his lawyers and very ominous for him,’ he wrote on X, the former Twitter site.
Trump called his prosecution ‘the beginning of communism.’
Trump once again defended his financing arrangements with lenders, pointing to disclaimers in asset valuations his company provided.
‘You borrow money, you pay it back, and you get sued by a political animal. That’s where we are,’ he said.
If Trump is found to violate the gag order he could face up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
It came after he tore into Engoron’s clerk Alison Greenfield – and called her Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s ‘girlfriend.’
He had claimed she ‘is running this case against me. How disgraceful!’ and posted a link to her Instagram account.
Trump’s comments came in a courthouse rant where he said he was ‘open’ to being speaker of the House as after a handful of right-wing Republicans floated his name for the top job.
‘A lot of people have asked me about it,’ Trump said during a press conference Wednesday morning.
‘We’re leading by like 50 points for president. My focus is totally on that. If I can help them during the process, I would do it. But we have some great people in the Republican party. They will do a great job as speaker,’ he went on.
‘I’ll do whatever it is to help but my focus is being president,’ Trump added.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote on a motion to vacate brought forth by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fla.
Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to push out their leader – making McCarthy the shortest-lived speaker in 140 years and the first one ever to be pushed out in the middle of his term. 
Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote on a motion to vacate brought forth by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz , Fla.
Gaetz claimed he had the backing of Trump in his efforts, but Trump posted on Truth Social in the midst of the drama: ‘Why is it that Republicans are always fighting among themselves, why aren’t they fighting the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our Country?’
But according to the House GOP’s own bylaws, Trump would be barred from holding the top job.
‘A member of the Republican Leadership shall step aside if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed,’ Republican conference rules state.
‘The only candidate for Speaker I am currently supporting is President Donald J. Trump,’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote on X.
‘@realDonaldTrump for Speaker,’ Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., added.
‘Kevin McCarthy will NOT be running again as Speaker. I nominate Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House,’ said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas.
But Trump has been indicted four times in the last six months. He’s been indicted on 91 federal and state charges and faces hundreds of years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Two of the cases are federal – one related to his handling of classified documents and one related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
There is no consensus yet on who will be the next speaker of the House.
Since McCarthy’s ouster Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan have emerged as frontrunners to take on the top job and have begun making calls to rank-and-file offices to gauge support.
Rep. Kevin Hern, chair of the Republican Study Committee, and Whip Tom Emmer have also hinted at interest in the role and called around to different offices.