Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday requested a mistrial in his New York fraud case, arguing that the trial judge and his top law clerk have exhibited bias against Trump and "tainted" the case.
"This appearance of bias threatens both Defendants’ rights and the integrity of the judiciary as an institution," Trump's counsel wrote in the 30-page motion that we imagine Judge Arthur Engoron will swiftly dismiss – until it resurfaces at Trump's likely appeal, should he lose.
Trump's legal team also pointed a finger at Engoron's top law clerk, who they called a "co-judge," who confers with Engoron via whispers or written notes before most orders are issued.
"The principal law clerk is given unprecedented and inappropriate latitude," reads the filing, which also says the clerk has made "partisan political contributions in excess of strict limits," including groups which support NY Attorney General Letitia James (D), a Trump foe.
Previous attacks on the clerk by Trump prompted a limited gag order which prevents the former president from talking about, or posting about, the judge's staff.
According to a spokesperson for the NYAG's office, Trump is "once again" trying to "dismiss the truth and the facts, but the numbers and evidence don't lie."
"He can keep trying to distract from his fraud, but the truth always comes out."