Sally Reed
A congressional blunder has led to ridicule for a controversial lawmaker. Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to criticize the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s fraud trial in New York. Instead, she drew mockery for an embarrassing misuse of legal terminology.
Her clumsy attack on the ruling exposed gaps in Greene’s grasp of the law. The incident gave new ammunition to the congresswoman’s critics as she again leaped to defend Trump in his latest legal troubles.
Greene’s Controversial Comments About Judge
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene faced backlash after criticizing the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York. On Thursday, Greene denounced New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron on social media, calling for him to be “disrobed and thrown out” after he ruled against the former president.
Greene’s comments demonstrated a lack of understanding of legal terminology, as she meant to call for Engoron to be “disbarred,” not “disrobed.” Disrobing a judge means stripping them of their clothing, while disbarment expels a judge from the bar association and revokes their license to practice law.
Background on the Trump Fraud Case
The civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, culminated in a ruling on Friday after years of litigation. New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for fraudulently inflating the value of his assets to obtain financial benefits. As a result, Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in damages and barred him from conducting business in New York for three years.
The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2019, accused Trump and his company of manipulating the value of his real estate properties to obtain loans and insurance with more favorable terms.
Mounting Legal Troubles
The civil ruling added to Trump’s extensive list of ongoing legal issues. In addition to the New York case, Trump appeared in court Thursday regarding illegal hush money payments, the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Trump’s attorneys also represented him in Atlanta, where he faces charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.
A separate trial on Trump’s election challenges is on hold in Washington, D.C., pending Trump’s appeal to claim presidential immunity. Despite his legal troubles and questionable actions, Greene’s ill-advised comments and defense of Trump demonstrate her ongoing support for the former president.
Reaction and Controversy
The size of the penalties in Engoron’s order, including $355 million in damages and banning Trump from conducting business in New York for three years, ignited controversy. Supporters of Trump argued the penalties were excessive, while others praised Engoron for holding Trump accountable.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked Engoron on social media, mistakenly calling for him to be “disrobed” rather than disbarred. Her comments were widely ridiculed. Trump himself has repeatedly smeared Engoron, calling him “out of control.” However, Engoron’s decision was a victory for N.Y.
Greene’s Justification for Wanting Judge Engoron Removed
According to Greene, Engoron has shown clear bias against Trump in his trial handling. She points to his decision to issue a gag order preventing Trump from speaking publicly about the case as evidence of prejudice.
Greene believes Engoron’s ruling was politically motivated rather than based on the facts of the case. In addition to accusations of bias, Greene has attacked Engoron’s competence and fitness to oversee the trial. She mocked his ruling as “ridiculous” and claimed he was a “disgrace.”
Defense of Trump’s Business Practices
Greene maintains that Trump’s business practices were lawful and ethical. She rejects the ruling that he unlawfully inflated his assets for financial gain. Greene points to the increased value of Mar-a-Lago as evidence that Trump’s valuation of the property was fair and accurate.
She argues that Engoron failed to consider Trump’s track record of success in real estate and hospitality appropriately. According to Greene, Trump’s business acumen justifies his actions, and the judge’s decision was misguided.
Calls for Recusal Rejected
Some of Trump’s supporters have called for Judge Engoron to recuse himself from the case, claiming he is biased against Trump. However, legal experts note that Engoron’s rulings have reflected the facts and applicable law.
According to former federal prosecutor Daniel Goldman, “Merely ruling against a litigant, even repeatedly, does not demonstrate bias requiring recusal.” He added that recusal is only warranted when there is a reasonable question about a judge’s impartiality, not simply because one disagrees with their legal conclusions.
Is There Merit to Greene’s Claims About Judge Engoron?
Congresswoman Greene’s claims against Justice Engoron lack merit and seem primarily motivated by her desire to defend former President Trump. The judge’s decision was based on the facts of the case, not any personal animosity toward Trump, and his ruling was well within an established legal procedure.
According to court documents, Trump’s business practices caused “harm to the people of the State of New York.” The Trump Organization was found liable for unlawfully inflating asset values to obtain bank loans and insurance on favorable terms.
A Pattern of Inflammatory Rhetoric
Greene has developed a reputation for using extreme and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in defense of former President Trump and his allies. For example, she has promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, called for the imprisonment of Trump’s political opponents, and engaged in hostile confrontations with survivors of school shootings.
Greene’s latest comments attacking Judge Engoron fit this pattern of strident partisanship and questionable judgment. The content analyzes Greene’s comments and the broader context, discussing her pattern of rhetoric as well as Trump’s legal situation.
A Pattern of Defending Trump
More broadly, Greene’s attack on Justice Engoron fits a pattern of her exaggeratedly leaping to Trump’s defense. She was among the most vocal proponents of Trump’s lies about election fraud, even going so far as to file articles of impeachment against President Biden on his first full day in office.
Her staunch defense of Trump, even in the face of credible evidence of wrongdoing, has cemented her status as one of his most devoted loyalists in Congress. However, her rhetoric risks further damaging her credibility and influence among independent and moderate voters.
Risks of Politicizing the Judiciary
The judiciary is meant to be an apolitical branch of government focused on interpreting a given case’s law and facts. Politicians attempting to pressure or attack judiciary members over unfavorable rulings undermine this independence and threaten to politicize the legal system.
Most recently, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron over his ruling against former President Donald Trump in a civil fraud trial. She called for Judge Engoron to be “disrobed,” though she likely meant “disbarred.”
Broader Implications for the Judiciary and Congress
The ruling in New York v. Trump Organization has significant implications beyond the parties involved. For the judiciary, Judge Engoron’s decision reinforces the courts’ independence and the judges’ duty to issue impartial rulings based solely on the facts and the law.
Despite facing repeated personal attacks from former President Trump, Judge Engoron remained steadfast in his obligation to provide fair judgment. His ruling demonstrates that intimidation or outside influence will not sway the judiciary.
Unwavering Allegiance
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s blundered call to “disrobe” the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s civil fraud case prompted swift ridicule, underscoring the congresswoman’s penchant for inflammatory rhetoric regardless of facts.
Ultimately, the verdict stands along with the judge’s authority, despite Greene’s misguided attempts at intervention. This saga highlights prominent figures’ ongoing challenges in navigating complex legal proceedings with nuance and precision.
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