Article:

The ongoing civil fraud trial involving former President Donald Trump has taken a disturbing turn as threats against the presiding judge and his law clerk have escalated since Trump publicly criticized court staff. According to court security officials, the threats are deemed "serious and credible."

Since October 3, when Trump posted baseless allegations about Judge Arthur Engoron's law clerk on social media, the threats against the judge and his clerk have increased significantly. Charles Hollon, a court officer-captain assigned to the Judicial Threats Assessment unit of the Department of Public Safety, stated in a sworn statement that the threats are considered genuine and not speculative.

Court security has observed a surge in threatening messages directed at both the judge and his clerk, including harassing calls, emails, and even instances of phone doxing. Shockingly, the use of antisemitic language has also been noted in the messages. The number of harassing messages being received is reaching dozens on a daily basis.

In response to Trump's baseless allegations, Judge Engoron issued a gag order that prohibited the former president from making statements about court staff. The gag order was later extended to include Trump's attorneys from commenting on the judge's private communications with his law clerk. At the time, Judge Engoron disclosed that his chambers had already received hundreds of harassing and threatening calls and emails.

The details of the threats have now been made public following a court filing on Wednesday. The disclosure reveals the gravity of the situation, with the judge and his clerk being inundated with numerous messages daily. The court officer-captain, Hollon, who signed a sworn statement, emphasized the necessity of reassessing security measures repeatedly to ensure the safety of the judge and those surrounding him.

In response to the escalating threats, Judge Engoron has fined Trump a total of $15,000 for violating the gag order on two occasions. However, this penalty did not deter the former president from seeking relief, and last week, a New York appeals court judge temporarily lifted the gag order after Trump argued that it violated his constitutional rights. The temporary stay on the gag order allows for a fuller panel of judges to review the matter.

In a recent court filing, the Court Administration for New York state requested the appeals court panel to maintain the gag order and deny Trump's attempt to permanently lift it. The filing included the sworn statement from Captain Hollon, highlighting the severity of the threats. The New York Attorney General's office also urged the court to keep the gag order in place for the safety of court staff and the integrity of the trial proceedings.

The threats have also taken a toll on the law clerk involved in the case. According to Hollon's statement, she has been receiving an average of 20-30 calls and 30-50 messages daily on her personal cell phone and social media platforms, along with two personal email addresses. Shockingly, roughly half of the harassing messages she received contained antisemitic content.

As the trial continues, all eyes are now on the forthcoming brief to be submitted by Trump on Monday. The incident underscores the increasing concern over the safety and well-being of those involved in high-profile legal proceedings, and authorities are actively working to address these threats and maintain the integrity of the trial.