Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Takes Action: Files Ethics Complaint Against Judge in Trump’s Civil Fraud Trial

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Takes Action: Files Ethics Complaint Against Judge in Trump’s Civil Fraud Trial

Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair, has lodged a formal complaint against Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the New York civil fraud case against Donald Trump. Stefanik accuses Engoron of showing “clear judicial bias” against Trump and engaging in “weaponized lawfare” against the former president. She is calling for the judge to recuse himself from the case.

Stefanik, a Republican from New York, claims that Engoron has failed to uphold Trump’s due process rights and has shown prejudice against him. She highlights comments made by the judge, such as referring to Trump as a “bad guy” and suggesting that the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, should pursue him. Stefanik argues that these instances of bias are particularly concerning given Trump’s status as the frontrunner for the presidential nomination.

The case in question involves a $250 million lawsuit filed by James last year, alleging that Trump inflated asset values for personal financial gain. Engoron is presiding over the bench trial, which means he will determine both guilt and sentencing. Trump, who testified passionately on Monday, has been at odds with the judge for weeks.

Engoron issued a partial gag order against Trump last month after the former president made disparaging remarks about a law clerk on social media and to reporters. Trump was fined twice for violating the gag order. The judge expanded the order last week to include Trump’s lawyers.

Stefanik filed the judicial ethics complaint against Engoron, citing his inappropriate bias and judicial intemperance in the lawsuit against Trump and the Trump Organization. She accuses the judge of illegally silencing Trump’s protected political speech, violating rules on political contributions by financially supporting Democrats, and disregarding a decision on the statute of limitations in the case. Stefanik also points out that Engoron posed for cameras at the start of the trial.

Stefanik emphasizes the potential consequences of Engoron’s actions, stating that if he can mistreat a billionaire businessman, a former President of the United States, and a leading presidential candidate, then all New Yorkers should be concerned. She warns that Engoron’s actions send a dangerous message to business owners, implying that judges in New York will destroy their businesses and livelihoods if they dislike their politics.

In her letter accompanying the complaint, Stefanik urges the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct to take corrective action and protect constitutional rights. She asserts that Engoron must recuse himself from the case.

Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the federal judge overseeing Trump’s criminal case related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election had violated his First Amendment rights by issuing a gag order.

Stefanik, who was the first member of Republican leadership to endorse Trump’s future White House bid, is a close ally of the former president. She is also suing Gov. Kathy Hochul over a mail-in voting expansion.

Trump is currently facing a demanding trial schedule, with civil and criminal cases pending in New York, Georgia, Florida, Manhattan, and Washington, D.C. The New York case, in which four members of the Trump family, including Trump himself, have testified, could have significant repercussions for their business.

Trump took to social media overnight to criticize Engoron and James, accusing them of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct by using fraudulent valuations that undervalue his family business’s real estate assets.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.