Judge In Trump’s Business Fraud Trial Receives Bomb Threat At His Home

On Thursday, Long Island police responded to a bomb threat at the residence of Judge Arthur Engoron just hours before the closing arguments in former President Donald Trump‘s civil fraud case were set to begin.

A bomb squad from Nassau County was dispatched to Engoron’s home to investigate the threat. It is unknown whether or not Engoron was present at the time of the threat.

The day before witnessed a heated email exchange between Engoron and Trump’s attorney, Chris Kise, about Trump’s desire to speak in the closing arguments. Engoron ultimately denied Trump’s request after the former president refused to commit to solely addressing the facts of the case and refraining from any personal attacks.

The bomb threat caused delays in processing reporters and lawyers through security lines at the courthouse where the closing arguments were scheduled. Outside the courthouse, protesters briefly disrupted traffic with chants and a banner that read, “No Dictators in the USA,” before they were dispersed by law enforcement.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the trial as “rigged and unfair” and claimed he was being compelled to return to New York despite not having an obligation to do so.

Judge Engoron presides over the $370 million lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D-New York) against Trump, the Trump Organization and top executives, which includes Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. The lawsuit stems from a comprehensive investigation into their business practices. As there is no jury in the bench trial, Engoron will issue a ruling and determine any penalties.

Engoron and James have faced attacks from Trump and his allies throughout the trial. In response to disparaging remarks made by Trump about Engoron’s law clerk, the judge issued a partial gag order in October, which was later expanded to include Trump’s lawyers. Trump appealed the gag order, but a state appeals court upheld it, noting that it is imperative that the clerk was protected from threats.

James’ lawsuit accuses Trump of the deliberate inflation of the value of his assets and properties in financial documents, which spanned over a decade. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and continues to claim that his properties were undervalued in the financial statements. He has also maintained that the civil fraud case is politically motivated and an effort to interfere with his potential 2024 presidential campaign.

On Thursday afternoon, Trump defied the judge’s order and delivered the closing argument in the case until the judge cut him off after ranting for five minutes.