Donald Trump has expressed strong disapproval of Judge Arthur Engoron's handling of a witness in his New York civil fraud trial.
On his Truth Social media platform, Trump accused the judge of mocking and excoriating a "highly respected Expert Witness," presumably referring to Eli Bartov, whose testimony Engoron deemed not credible.
Photo: Truthsocial
Photo: Truthsocial
Controversial Testimony and Compensation
According to Newsweek, Engoron's skepticism of Bartov's testimony was evident in his statement that for a substantial fee, some experts might say anything.
Bartov, a research professor at New York University Stern School of Business, was compensated approximately $1,350 per hour for his involvement in the case, totaling $877,500 for 650 hours of work. The Trump team paid a total of $2.5 million to 19 witnesses.
Trump's reaction was fierce, criticizing Judge Engoron for questioning the standard practice of compensating expert witnesses and accusing him of not listening to the witness.
Trump viewed this as a significant insult to Bartov, whom he described as a man of impeccable character and qualifications. Trump continued to suggest that the court was biased against him for political reasons, echoing his longstanding accusation of a "witch hunt" spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
