In a recent development, lawyers representing former President Donald Trump have requested the recusal of New York judge Arthur Engoron from a case in which Trump was ordered to pay nearly $454 million. The lawyers allege that the judge engaged in “prohibited communications” with a real estate lawyer, Adam Bailey, about the case prior to issuing his decision.
Trump’s legal team is pushing for an evidentiary hearing to investigate the reported conversation between Judge Engoron and Bailey. According to filings submitted to the court, Bailey claimed in an interview with NBC New York that he had spoken to the judge before the verdict was rendered, expressing his views on the case and urging the judge to rule in a certain way.
The lawyers argue that these interactions raise concerns about the judge’s impartiality and fairness in overseeing the case, which has already been appealed. Despite these claims, Judge Engoron continues to oversee a monitor responsible for monitoring the finances of the Trump Organization.
Trump’s attorneys assert that the judge’s involvement in discussions about the case with Bailey compromises the integrity of the judicial process. They have also issued a subpoena to Bailey to gather more information about the alleged communications.
Bailey, for his part, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he only discussed the judge’s summary judgment decision in September with reporters. He maintains that his conversations with Judge Engoron were focused on legal matters and did not influence the outcome of the case.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for WNBC, the news outlet that reported Bailey’s claims, has stated that they stand by their reporting. Meanwhile, Bailey has expressed disappointment and dismay over the situation, claiming that he was misled and that his off-the-record statement has caused turmoil.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the court will address these allegations and whether Judge Engoron will indeed recuse himself from the case. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
