Judge gags former president Donald Trump after new attack on court staff

Donald Trump claimed the judge’s clerk was the girlfriend of Chuck Schumer, the Democrat majority leader in the Senate.

Donald Trump makes a point leaving court in New York on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

The judge in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial issued a gag order in the case after “disparaging and untrue” remarks were made about court staff.

Arthur Engoron threatened serious consequences after a social media post by Mr Trump claimed that Allison Greenfield, the judge’s clerk, was the girlfriend of Chuck Schumer, the Democrat majority leader in the Senate. The post has since been deleted, but was emailed to potentially millions of supporters.

The judge ordered all parties not to make “disparaging and untrue” remarks about court staff.

Mr Trump had earlier renewed his attacks on the New York attorney-general and the judge in the trial on the second day of a case that could see him fined $US250m ($397m).

He labelled Letitia James “fraudulent” and “grossly incompetent” as he arrived at the court.

Soon after, a statement was put out on the former president’s behalf accusing Judge Engoron of being “horribly biased and very corrupt”.

Mr Trump sat between his lawyers on the defence bench and studied court documents as he listened to evidence given by Don­ald Bender, an accountant at the firm Mazars, which previously served the Trump Organisation.

Under questioning from Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in Ms James’s office, Mr Bender said ­accounts he prepared for the company were largely based on self-reported figures.

Mr Trump maintained an almost continuous dialogue with Chris Kise, his principal lawyer. On several occasions he appeared to be frustrated with Mr Bender’s evidence, crossing his arms and sitting back in his chair.

Judge Engoron found last week that Mr Trump and his company were liable for fraud and cancelled business certificates for companies that control Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street.

The Times