“I Think There May Be a Bit of Misogyny”: Trump’s Legal Team Intensifies Claims of ‘Partisan Political Activity’ by NY Judge’s Clerk

Amy LewisNov 8, 2023

Minute Read

Donald Trump’s legal team believes it’s not just New York prosecutors they’re battling in a $250 million civil fraud trial — but also the judge’s senior clerk.

Whisperings to Judge

Clerk Allison Greenfield sits beside Judge Arthur Engoron in the Manhattan courtroom where the trial is ongoing, and is often seen whispering to him as proceedings are underway.

Trump Clerk Attack

Trump attacked the clerk on social media not long after the trial started, saying Greenfield was “running this case against me.” He also shared a photograph of the clerk that, combined with his comment, resulted in the judge placing a gag order on the defendant.

‘Two-Party Fight’

But Trump’s legal team has had enough of clerk Allison, with attorney Chris Kise saying in court: “I do feel like truly that I’m fighting two adversaries” — meaning Greenfield as well as the New York attorney’s office.

Gag Order Fines

Editorial credit: Potashev Aleksandr / Shutterstock.

Trump has been fined twice for breaking the gag order Judge Engoron placed on him: first $5,000 and then $10,000.

The NYC Case

Fraud charges against Trump, his adult sons and senior executives at the Trump Organization were brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. She alleges that years of fraud was committed by Trump’s company — of about $2 billion, by inflating the Trump Organization’s property values — to get favorable loans from banks.

A Ruling on Fraud

Judge Engoron, who alone will decide the case, has already ruled that fraud did take place and is hearing testimony from Trump’s adult children as well as Trump himself. The judge revoked several of the Trump Organization’s business licenses, and Trump is at risk of losing control of his property empire that includes his prestigious Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Wider Gag Order Possibility

Lawyer Kise said in court that clerk Greenfield was involved in “partisan political activity” and suggested there should therefore be a mistrial. Judge Engoron then said he was considering widening the gag order on Trump to include his entire legal team.

Passing Notes Complaint

As well as whispering, Kise also said he had also seen clerk Greenfield pass dozens of notes to the judge on one day alone — as many as 40, he said. “That gives off the appearance of impropriety. It does. I am entitled to make a record of that,” said the attorney.

Women Problem?

Judge Engoron responded to Kise’s remarks about note-passing by suggesting the lawyer had a problem with women. “Sometimes I think there may be a bit of misogyny in the fact that you keep referring to my female principal law clerk,” said the judge.

Trump Testimony

Editorial credit: mark reinstein/Shutterstock.

The former president took the witness stand on Monday and repeatedly clashed with Judge Engoron, who he has frequently attacked on social media. Trump denied he overvalued his properties to get cheap loans, instead insisting before the court: “I’m worth billions of dollars more than the financial statements.”

‘No Speeches’

Instead of giving direct answers to prosecutors’ questions while on the stand, Trump gave long and rambling statements. That prompted Judge Engoron to say: “Please just answer the questions. No speeches.”

‘Control Your Client’

But Trump kept up his strategy of avoiding directly answering questions, forcing Judge Engoron to then say to Trump’s legal team: “Can you control your client? This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom.”

The frustrated judge added: “I beseech you to control him. If you can’t, I will.”

Trump a ‘Broken Record’

After Trump said in court “I’m sure the judge will rule against me because he always rules against me,” Judge Engoron said he was like a “broken record.”

“You can attack me in whichever way you want, but please answer the questions,” said the judge.

Trump’s Presidential Campaign

Trump, 77, is campaigning for a return to the White House, in the 2024 presidential election, taking place next November. He is leading the Republican field of hopefuls, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, by a margin of around 50 points and is likely to be chosen as the GOP candidate in primaries in January.

Many Legal Problems

The New York case is not the only legal headache Trump has, because he’s been indicted four times on 91 charges of criminal wrongdoing. The cases threaten to send Trump to prison and include allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden, alleged mishandling of sensitive government documents and allegedly paying money to a former adult film actress so she wouldn’t disclose an alleged affair with the former president.

Trump denies all the charges, saying Democrats who want to stop him from becoming president again are behind them.