US: Judge In Trump’s Civil Fraud Case Faces ‘bomb Threat’ At Home
A judge overseeing a civil fraud case against former US President Donald Trump has received a bomb threat at his home, just hours before the closing arguments of the trial.
Police and bomb squad units were dispatched to the residence of Judge Arthur Engoron in Nassau County, east of New York City, on Thursday morning, following an anonymous tip, according to NBC News.
It is unclear if the judge was at home at the time of the incident, or if any explosive devices were found.
The trial, which began in September, is expected to resume today, with increased security measures at the courthouse.
The state of New York is suing Mr Trump for nearly $370m (£291m) in penalties, claiming he and his associates inflated the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure favourable loans from banks.
Mr Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, has called the case a “rigged and unfair” political witch hunt, and has tried to use his court appearances to boost his popularity among his supporters.
On Wednesday, he held a campaign rally in Iowa, where he said he was being “forced” to return to New York for the trial, despite having no legal obligation to do so.
He also asked the judge to let him speak during the closing arguments, but his request was denied, as the judge said he would not allow a “campaign speech” in his courtroom.
Mr Trump is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and is facing several other legal challenges, including criminal investigations into his business dealings and tax affairs.
The judge will issue a verdict at a later date, without a jury, after he already found Mr Trump liable for fraud in a previous ruling.
The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Mr Trump’s fraud could have a “frightening” impact on the future of democracy and the rule of law, if he wins the case.
