In a riveting courtroom episode, Trump unexpectedly took the stand, only to be hit with a $10,000 penalty. The presiding judge, Engoron, summoned Trump to testify following what appeared to be Trump’s derogatory comments about the judge’s legal assistant, in direct contravention of a court-imposed gag order.
Judge Engoron sternly warned, “I made it clear previously that any subsequent infractions would be met with harsh consequences. What justification can there be for such a flagrant and perilous disregard of a judicial directive?”
Following the morning session, Trump spoke to the media, vehemently denying that his comments were aimed at Greenfield, the judge’s clerk. However, he consistently dodged queries about the actual target of his remarks.
Merely 30 minutes post the imposition of the fine in the afternoon, Trump made a startling move. He suddenly rose from the defense table and exited the courtroom, not to return again.
In a subsequent email communication, a representative for the former U.S. President accused Judge Engoron of persistently targeting Trump. The spokesman stated that the judge was “going to great lengths to violate President Trump’s First Amendment rights and to meddle in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election.”
This incident adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle, raising questions about the boundaries of free speech and the authority of the judicial system.
