A concerning incident unfolded in Manhattan on Wednesday as a letter containing white powder was sent to the chambers of Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over Donald Trump’s $464 million civil fraud judgment. This development coincided with the filing of a lengthy motion by Trump’s legal team seeking to stay the ruling. According to a source familiar with the investigation, the letter was intercepted during the routine pre-screening of Engoron’s mail at 60 Centre Street. Fortunately, due to the proactive screening process, the judge was not exposed to the letter, which arrived in a standard business-sized envelope.
Although the building did not require evacuation, two court staffers came into contact with the powder. Thankfully, they did not exhibit any immediate adverse effects from their exposure. Additionally, the envelope contained a letter addressed to the judge. Authorities swiftly assessed the situation and deemed the powder to be safe, averting any further escalation of the incident.
In a separate incident, New York State Police disclosed their investigation into another envelope containing white powder, this time directed to 1 Empire State Plaza in Albany, where New York Attorney General Letitia James maintains an office. While the police did not confirm if the envelope was intended for James, sources within law enforcement indicated that her office received the letter. The Attorney General’s office acknowledged receipt of a letter containing white powder the previous day but refrained from specifying the addressee.
Trump’s legal team has vehemently criticized the judgment against him, labeling it a witchhunt and unprecedentedly punitive. They promptly filed a motion seeking to stay the judgment, asserting errors of law and fact on Engoron’s part, along with alleged abuse of discretion and jurisdiction. Simultaneously, they lodged a notice of appeal with the state’s mid-level appeals court, signaling their intention to challenge Engoron’s February 16 verdict.
Engoron’s ruling implicated Trump, his company, and key executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., in a long-standing scheme to deceive financial institutions and insurers by inflating Trump’s wealth on financial documents. In addition to imposing stringent penalties, the judge imposed severe restrictions on the Trump Organization’s business activities.
The impending legal battles ensure that Trump’s controversies regarding his business practices will linger well into the presidential primary season and likely beyond, as he pursues the Republican nomination for a chance to reclaim the White House. If upheld, Engoron’s judgment stands to significantly diminish Trump’s wealth, with the total penalty amounting to nearly $464 million, accruing interest at a substantial rate until paid in full.