Trump to seek in mistrial in New York civil fraud case: attorney

Former President Donald Trump will soon seek a mistrial in the ongoing New York civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James that has seen him feud intensely with the judge.

During a Sunday appearance on Fox News, Trump attorney Alina Habba confirmed that the team planned to file for a mistrial "very soon." Complicating matters, however, is the fact that the same judge who has handled the trial will consider the request.

James has alleged that Trump manipulated the value of his assets to secure favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums. She further seeks $250 million in damages and an order barring Trump from doing business in the Empire State.

Judge Arthur Engoron, who has presided over the case, found in favor of James in summary judgement on the key element of her claim, a finding that prompted outrage from the former president and loomed over the contentious trial. An appeals court subsequently ruled that Trump could retain control of his businesses while the trial proceeded instead of surrendering them to a court-appointed receiver.

Trump and his attorneys have routinely sparred with Engoron during the proceedings over Trump's commentary on social media. The former president has insisted the case is part of a political witch hunt designed to derail his 2024 White House bid.

Engoron, for his part, has issued multiple gag orders against Trump and his attorneys to prevent them from publicly commenting on his staff and has since imposed multiple fines for violations.

Trump has been a vocal critic of Engoron's judgeship, stating in October that "[t]he Judge in the New York State A.G. case refuses to accept the overturning of his decisions by the Appeals Court. This is a first in the history of the State! HE HAS GONE CRAZY IN HIS HATRED OF 'TRUMP.'"

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.