JUST IN: Arthur Engoron Receives Envelope With White Powder

An envelope containing a powdery substance was sent to Justice Arthur Engoron at a New York City courthouse, leading to an emergency response on Wednesday morning. Justice Engoron, known for presiding over the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump, was the intended recipient of the envelope, according to officials.

Initial tests on the powder found in an envelope addressed to Engoron at the downtown Manhattan courthouse indicated it was not hazardous, a spokesperson for the New York State Unified Court System announced. Further examinations are being conducted as a precautionary measure, sources close to the situation reported to ABC News.

The envelope was intercepted in the courthouse’s operations office, leading to the temporary isolation of staff members present until the substance could be safely evaluated. Justice Engoron did not come into contact with the substance, the spokesperson confirmed to the outlet.

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An envelope containing white powder was also delivered to the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James in Albany, New York, on Tuesday. The substance found inside the envelope sent to James’s office was tested and found to be non-hazardous. According to the source, there were no injuries resulting from the incident.

Judge Engoron was a key figure in the case concerning Trump’s business practices over the last year, specifically allegations of fraud and misrepresentation in the valuation of assets by the Trump Organization. The legal battle was part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil investigation into whether Trump and his company falsely inflated the value of assets on financial statements used to secure loans and obtain economic and tax benefits.

The courtroom was notably contentious. In October, Judge Engoron issued a gag order against Trump after the 45th President blasted Engoron’s law clerk in public comments to the press and on social media. The Judge took issue in particular with a post by Trump to Truth Social that was critical of Engoron’s principal law clerk Alison Greenfield, sharing an image of her with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

In February, Trump faced a significant legal setback when he was prohibited from conducting his business activities in New York for three years. Additionally, he was held responsible for $355 million in so-called “damages.”

The lawsuit targeted Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization. Trump now faces the potential loss of some of his most valued properties if he is unable to settle his enormous New York civil fraud fine.

“I also knew we have a corrupt judge. He’s not a respected man,” Trump stated after the ruling referring to Engoron. “Again, I said before, he’s been overturned on this case by the appellate division four times already. It’s a record. Nobody’s ever been overturned on one case four times.”

The former President did not stop at criticizing the judiciary. He extended his commentary to the broader state of New York. “It’s a state that’s going bust because everybody’s leaving and it’s all headed up by Biden who’s destroying our country.”