Trump Hit With Gag Order In Civil Fraud Trial — Judge Says Ex-President's Remarks About His Staff, 'Unacceptable, Inappropriate And Will Not Be Tolerated'

In recent developments, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been served a gag order by the judge overseeing his civil fraud trial. The trial is now in its second day.

What Happened: As reported by Reuters on Tuesday, Justice Arthur Engoron of the New York state court in Manhattan issued a gag order on Trump and others implicated in the case. This move followed Trump’s social media criticisms of the judge’s chief law clerk.

Justice Engoron deemed the remarks directed at his staff as “unacceptable, inappropriate and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.” He further cautioned of “serious sanctions” for any breaches of the gag order, which could lead to fines or contempt of court charges.

The trial, centered around allegations from New York Attorney General Letitia James, could potentially dismantle Trump’s business empire if he is found guilty. James claims that Trump, his two adult sons, and the Trump Organization inflated asset values over a decade to secure favorable bank loans and insurance terms.

See Also: Pro-Trump Historian Tells Tucker Carlson America Is In ‘The Middle Of A Revolution’ Amid Ex-President’s Civil Fraud Trial

The case, predicted to extend into December, will also consider six additional claims, including falsifying business records, insurance fraud, and conspiracy. Notably, Trump has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty in all cases.

Why It Matters: This is not the first time Trump has faced the prospect of a gag order. Earlier, a motion to limit Trump’s public comments about retired General Mark Milley was initiated by Special Counsel Jack Smith, as noted in this Benzinga article .

Furthermore, Trump’s civil fraud trial could spell a “financial catastrophe” for him, as per his former attorney, Michael Cohen. As reported in this Benzinga article, Cohen suggests that the potential dissolution of some of Trump’s companies could be a “deathblow” to the former President.

The gag order comes after Trump expressed discontent over the absence of a jury in his trial, blaming it on his legal team’s oversight. The case will proceed as a bench trial, with Judge Engoron presiding, who has previously ruled against Trump. This development was reported in this Benzinga article.

In light of these events, the outcome of the trial and the potential implications for Trump’s business empire are eagerly awaited.

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