New York Attorney General Fraud Lawsuit: Donald Trump Lashes Out At Judge

Just days before court hearing, former President Donald Trump lashed out at the judge who is handling the New York attorney general’s fraud lawsuit against him and his business.

In a social media post on Friday, Trump called him “vicious, biased, and mean," reported the AP News. Trump had been on the losing side of judge Arthur Engoron’s rulings in the past. The former President coupled the latest criticism with complaints that as a politician, he shouldn’t be forced to deal with legal action until after the midterm elections on Nov. 8.

In a separate case, following the completion of jury selection on Friday, opening statements are set for Monday in the Trump Organization’s criminal tax fraud trial.

Trump has been dropping hints about a possible comeback run for U.S. President in 2024. He recently wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform about having to deal with simultaneous legal action on the eve of the November election. It could put Republicans back in control of one or both houses of Congress.

Trump wrote that in breaking with a tradition where cases involving politicians are "not to be brought or tried just prior to, or during, a major Election (the Midterms), I have THREE." He noted that all the three cases are run and inspired by "Democrats, who absolutely refused to move the date."

In New York courts, there are three active cases involving him or the Trump Organization. The organization's criminal tax fraud trial could last into December. It involves allegations that top executives got off-the-books compensation. On Friday, six alternate jurors were picked to complete the panel that's required for the trial. Jury selection is set to begin in the Bronx in a civil lawsuit on Monday. The suit is brought by protesters who claim that they were roughed up by the former President's security guards.

He slammed Engoron, who is a Democrat, in the third case. It is a civil lawsuit, which is filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and alleges that Trump and his company inflated his net worth by billions of dollars and misled banks about the value of assets. The outburst came after an administrative judge refused last Tuesday to have the matter reassigned to another judge.

The judge had repeatedly ruled against Trump in disputes over subpoenas. He held the former President in contempt and fined him $110,000 for being slow to turn over the documents. He also forced him to sit for a deposition.

Trump said on Truth Social that the only person worse than James was the judge. Trump went on to call the judge a "vicious, biased, and mean ‘rubber stamp’ for the Communist takeover of the great and prosperous American company that I have built over a long period of years."

James is seeking $250 million and a permanent ban on Trump doing business in New York. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday where Engoron will weigh the Attorney General's request for an independent monitor to oversee the Trump Organization’s activities. This comes after she alleged that the company was taking steps to dodge potential penalties, reported ABC News.