Politics
Marjorie Taylor Greene: Throw out judge who ruled Trump committed fraud
By Jake Beardslee · February 23, 2024
In brief…
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked Judge Arthur Engoron for his fraud verdict against Trump
- Engoron ruled Trump inflated value of Mar-a-Lago, Trump claims it's worth over $1 billion
- Greene demanded Engoron be "disrobed", called him a "disgrace"
- Trump denied fraud, appealed verdict barring him from NY businesses for 3 years
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) recently critiqued New York Judge Arthur Engoron, demanding he be “disrobed” for his $355 million business fraud verdict against former President Trump last week, according to her recent posts on X.
Judge Engoron had ruled that Trump and his company committed business fraud by manipulating the value of assets, including inflating the value of his Florida home, the Mar-a-Lago club. Trump has claimed the property is worth upwards of $1 billion, while Engoron agreed to a Palm Beach appraiser’s value of between $18 million and $27 million.
“Judge Engoron should be disrobed and thrown out, he’s a disgrace!!” Greene wrote on X.
Greene reposted a 1981 news clipping from when the property went on sale, formerly the Post mansion, for $20 million. “Mar-a-lago in 1981 was only a home, today it is one of the most exclusive social clubs in the world,” she continued. “Mar-a-lago is worth more now than the ridiculous judgement he ruled against Pres Trump!”
Engoron has pushed back on claims that he personally ruled that Mar-a-Lago is worth significantly less than Trump believes, instead noting he relied on a local real estate appraiser. Trump allies have used the club value disparity to attack the judge, claiming political bias.
“Please, press, stop saying that I valued it at $18 million,” Engoron said at one trial proceeding last October.
Trump has denied committing fraud and has vowed to appeal. The ruling against him also bars him from operating businesses in New York for three years. Trump’s attorneys requested a 30-day stay on the verdict Wednesday, in order to delay the period until he has to pay the judgment.