In a Manhattan courtroom overseeing the fraud trial of Donald Trump's family company, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron expressed his frustration with one of Trump's lawyers, Christopher Kise, for continuously targeting his law clerk, Allison Greenfield. Business Insider reports that Engoron admonished Kise, stating that it was regrettable that he had "descended to this level."

The incident occurred on Friday morning when Kise asked Engoron if he could object in the court record about Greenfield, who sits next to the judge on the bench and often passes him notes. This came a day after Engoron accused Kise of misogyny for making a snide remark about Greenfield and threatened to extend the gag order to Trump's legal team. Engoron had already issued a gag order against Trump, prohibiting him from discussing his court staff due to concerns about their safety.

During the proceedings, Kise referred to a "news report" that supposedly raised concerns about Greenfield's impartiality in the case, mentioning that a complaint was filed on October 3. However, when asked by a lawyer from the New York Attorney General's office about the specific report, Kise was unsure and speculated that it may be from Breitbart, a far-right media organization.

The alleged news report in question pertained to a letter written by a Wisconsin man, Brock Fredin, addressed to the New York judge. The letter, hosted on a website claiming Greenfield to be a "partisan hack," insinuated bias and highlighted Greenfield's Instagram posts supporting Democratic politicians. It also referenced an unauthorized YouTube video of a previous Zoom hearing posted by Fredin, which violated court rules.

Engoron denied ever receiving the letter and expressed his surprise, stating that he had no knowledge of the news allegation until Kise mentioned Breitbart. Engoron left it to those present in the courtroom to form their opinions about Breitbart's credibility.

Kise argued that Greenfield's notes passed to the judge created a perception of bias, as the attorneys couldn't see their contents. He claimed to be "arguing against two adversaries, not one," referring to both the attorneys from the Attorney General's office and Greenfield. Additionally, Kise questioned Engoron's concern for Greenfield's security while allowing photographers to take pictures of her on the bench. He also pointed out that closed-circuit cameras in the courthouse had been adjusted to make it difficult to see Greenfield.

In response, Engoron dismissed any involvement in moving the camera and clarified that he had no idea this discussion would arise. He emphasized that he consulted his law clerks whenever necessary and maintained his impartiality.

During Friday's court session, Eric Trump, Donald Trump's son, testified for about an hour, addressing questions about his signatures on documents related to valuations of Trump Organization properties. The New York Attorney General's office alleges that the company provided false valuations, leading to favorable loan terms and unjustifiably low taxes. The Attorney General's office seeks over $250 million in damages and a ban on the Trumps from running businesses in New York, a partial agreement that Engoron has already expressed.

As the trial progresses, Trump's lawyers intend to continue appealing any rulings against them. Eric Trump, when asked about phone calls discussing property valuations, claimed he couldn't recall them due to the sheer volume of calls he receives daily.

Engoron concluded the court session by urging Trump's legal team to refrain from making further comments about his staff and their communication. He reminded them that if they sought to appeal, they already had ample grounds to support their case.

Overall, Engoron affirmed his commitment to conduct the trial fairly, devoid of any political bias. The trial centers on Executive Law 63(12) and the alleged fraudulent practices of the Trump Organization.