House Republican Files Judicial Complaint Against Judge in Trump Fraud Case, US

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has filed a judicial complaint against Judge Arthur Engoron in New York, accusing him of inappropriate bias and judicial intemperance in his handling of former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case. This comes after the New York Court of Appeals dismissed Trump’s appeal to lift a gag order related to the fraud case. Stefanik challenges the court’s dismissal, asserting that Engoron has displayed biased misconduct against the former president. In a letter to Engoron, Stefanik criticized the gag order as unconstitutional and an interference in the ongoing GOP presidential primary. This complaint follows a previous one submitted by Stefanik in November, accusing Engoron of bias and calling for his recusal. The judge imposed the gag order on Trump in October after the former president publicly criticized the judge’s staff. The case, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump’s family business and his sons manipulated financial statements and assets to defraud banks and insurers. Engoron is set to determine the sentencing in the case. Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally, has consistently pushed back against the charges, claiming they are politically motivated and intended to harm Trump’s reelection bid.