Alina Habba, the attorney representing former President Trump, stated on Sunday that she intends to file for a mistrial in Trump’s ongoing fraud case in New York in the near future. She also expressed concerns about the possibility of the same trial judge handling the motion.
According to The Hill, President Trump has repeatedly voiced apprehensions, both on social media and in the courtroom, regarding the impartiality of the judge overseeing the case and the judge’s principal clerk. He has alleged that their actions are politically motivated and biased.
Judge Arthur Engoron had imposed a gag order last month, prohibiting Trump and all involved parties from publicly discussing his staff members. Engoron had also fined Trump $10,000 for violating this gag order.
During an appearance on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” when asked about Trump’s concerns regarding the judge and clerk, Alina Habba mentioned that the gag order had limited her ability to respond. However, she confirmed that they would be submitting legal documents to address these concerns.
When inquired about the possibility of filing for a mistrial, Habba indicated that it would happen “soon” and then added “very soon.” She elaborated on the challenges, noting that motions like requesting a judge’s recusal had already been submitted twice. However, the same judge who had issued the gag order would be responsible for making determinations regarding these matters.
Trump’s defense is scheduled to commence presenting their case in New York, where he faces a $250 million lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James over alleged fraud spanning more than a decade. The lawsuit targets Trump, the Trump Organization, and Trump’s two adult sons, alleging that the former president’s company manipulated the value of its assets to obtain lower taxes and improved insurance coverage. Trump and his sons have denied these allegations.