“We can’t wait any longer” :Trump’s lawyer issues ultimatum that could shake up high-profile case
According to a report by Newsweek on Saturday, June 22, 2024, Alina Habba, attorney for former President Donald Trump, has issued a bold ultimatum to Judge Arthur Engoron, demanding his recusal from the ongoing civil fraud case that has captured national attention.
The move comes as Trump’s legal team grows increasingly impatient with the pace of the investigation into alleged improprieties during the trial, which resulted in a staggering $454 million fine against the former president.
Habba’s ultimatum, delivered during a fiery appearance on Fox News, has sent panic through the legal community and threatens to upend the high-profile case that has already dealt a crucial blow to Trump’s financial and professional standing.
The controversy at the heart of this latest development stems from claims that Judge Engoron received unsolicited advice from New York real estate attorney Adam Leitman Bailey while the trial was still in progress.
Bailey’s revelation to WNBC, a New York City-based NBC station, that he approached Judge Engoron approximately three weeks before Trump’s trial to share his thoughts on the case has ignited a firestorm of debate and speculation.
“I told him what I think and why…I really want him to get it right,” Bailey stated, though he was quick to add that during this conversation, “We never mentioned the words, Donald Trump”.
This disclosure has provided Trump’s legal team with potential ammunition to challenge the verdict, with Habba emphasizing the seriousness of these allegations during her Fox News appearance.
Habba mentioned that the incident is under investigation by the Office of Attorney Ethics. However, she stated that Trump’s team “cannot wait here any longer for these judges to sit here and make the right decision.”
As a result, Habba said Trump’s team is “going to continue to push and push” and has subpoenaed Bailey to access his communications. “If this was influenced, if we do find out about it, absolutely there are grounds to vacate the decision for a reversal,” Habba declared, underscoring the high stakes involved in this legal battle.
The Trump team’s response to these allegations has been swift and aggressive, with Habba announcing that they have subpoenaed Bailey in an attempt to gain access to his communications.
“We’re going to continue to push and push,” Habba asserted, signaling a relentless pursuit of any evidence that might support their claims of improper influence on the trial’s outcome.
The civil fraud case, which concluded in February, saw Judge Engoron impose a $454 million fine on Trump, including interest, after ruling that the former president had engaged in civil fraud by falsely inflating the value of his assets when securing bank loans.
In addition to the hefty financial penalty, Trump was banned from holding any directorships in New York for three years, and the Trump Organization was prohibited from securing loans with companies in the city during this period. Throughout this legal ordeal, Trump has steadfastly maintained his innocence and is currently in the process of appealing the civil judgment.
The New York State Unified Court System has responded to these allegations with caution, with communications department spokesperson Al Baker insisting that Engoron did not have improper contact with “Mr. Bailey or any other person” during the civil fraud trial.
However, Baker stated that they had “no further comment on this matter,” a response that has only fueled speculation and intensified the demands from Trump’s legal team for action.
Habba’s ultimatum to Judge Engoron represents a significant escalation in their strategy, putting pressure not only on the judge but also on the broader judicial system to address these allegations of impropriety.
The controversy raises important questions about judicial conduct and the integrity of high-profile legal proceedings, with potential implications that extend far beyond Trump’s case.
If proven true, these allegations could have far-reaching consequences not just for Trump’s legal battles, but for public trust in judicial processes and the broader legal system.
The situation also highlights the intense scrutiny and political pressure surrounding legal cases involving high-profile figures like Trump, whose legal challenges have consistently attracted crucial media attention and public interest.
