Trump returns for New York civil trial after judge imposes gag order

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared again in a Manhattan court for the third day of New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit after Judge Arthur Engoron issued a limited gag order against the former president over the case.

Outside of the courtroom Wednesday, Trump slammed the trial process, which he says "doesn't allow me a jury, doesn't allow me anything."

Engoron ruled last week that the former president was liable for defrauding insurers and banks by inflating his property values, which would have lowered his insurance costs and given him better loan terms.

"They've weaponized justice in our country. This trial is a disgrace," Trump also said. 

Engoron imposed a limited gag order against Trump after he posted a photo on Truth Social of the judge's clerk, calling her the "girlfriend" of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. 

While Engoron said Tuesday that a jury trial would not occur because "nobody asked for" one, the nature of the charges against Trump make it highly unlikely that a jury trial would have even been approved had he asked, according to legal experts. 

A Trump spokesperson said that the consumer protection statute that the attorney general filed the charges under deny the right to a jury trial so it was not even an option for his legal team to pick.

Even though he is not expected to testify for several weeks, Trump appeared the first two days in court, which is a departure from his previous practices. The stakes are significantly higher at this trial, however, as James, a Democrat, is seeking to fine Trump $250 million in damages and permanently bar the former president and his two eldest sons from serving as officers of any New York-based businesses.

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