After former President Trump made comments on social media about the law clerk in his civil fraud trial, Justice Arthur Engoron issued a gag order barring Trump from making more comments about court staff, Politico reports. The social media attack included a photo of the clerk, Allison Greenfield. “This morning one of the defendants posted to his social media account a disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post about a member of my staff,” said Engoron, addressing Trump as he sat in the courtroom, 15 feet from Greenfield. The judge said he had warned Trump Monday “off the record” about making such comments, but that Trump had ignored him. After Trump posted the material online Tuesday, Engoron ordered him to delete the post, which was then deleted.
“Consider this statement a gag order forbidding all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about any of my staff,” Engoron said. “Failure to abide by this order will result in serious sanctions.” Earlier Tuesday, Trump posted a message alleging Greenfield “is running this case against me.” Several minutes later, Trump’s campaign sent out his social media post in an email blast. Trump posted the claim about Greenfield while the trial was still in its morning session. After the court broke for lunch, the judge called the parties back. Court resumed after the lunch break and a 45-minute delay. Since the start of the trial on Monday morning, Greenfield has been sitting immediately to the right of Engoron, which placed her directly facing Trump. Trump, his adult sons and his businesses are being sued for up to $250 million in penalties stemming from what New York authorities describe as persistent business fraud.
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