Trump fraud judge targeted with bomb threat hours before closing arguments

The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's fraud trial received a bomb threat hours before the civil trial's closing arguments Thursday in Manhattan. 

As Trump entered the courtroom, he called the trial an "unconstitutional witch hunt" and criticized how New York Judge Arthur Engoron on Wednesday rescinded his permission allowing the former president to make his own closing remarks.

"I want to speak. I want to make the summation. At this moment, the judge is not letting me make the summation because I'll bring up things that he doesn't want to hear, and it's a very unfair trial," Trump said. He also pledged to hold a press conference later in the day.

Earlier in the day, Nassau County Police said officers responded to a threat targeting Engoron's home around 5:30 a.m., which a court spokesperson later confirmed was a bomb, according to multiple reports.

The trial is incredibly important for Trump, as New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James is asking the court to fine him more than $370 million and ban the former president and his two eldest sons from serving as officials of a business in the state. 

Engoron already ruled in September that Trump could be held liable for inflating his net worth for years in a bid to secure better loans and insurance deals, and the current trial is on damages. Engoron said his goal is to issue a written decision by the end of January.

This case is separate from the New York state felony charges Trump faces over the alleged falsification of business records to which the former president has pleaded not guilty. It is also separate from author E. Jean Carroll's second defamation lawsuit against Trump.  

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.