Elise Stefanik’s Complaint Against NY Judge Quietly Dismissed
Francis Chung / POLITICO via AP file
A high-profile ethics complaint lodged by Rep. Elise Stefanik against Justice Arthur F. Engoron, the New York civil court judge who ordered former President Donald Trump to pay over $450 million, has been quietly dismissed, marking a subdued end to a vigorous attack. The Daily Beast reports that a state commission cleared Justice Engoron and his law clerk, Allison Greenfield, of any “inappropriate bias and judicial intemperance,” surprising Stefanik and her staff.
The news of the dismissal led to a confused reaction from Stefanik’s office, with her executive director, Alex DeGrasse, questioning the basis of The Daily Beast’s report. DeGrasse did not confirm whether Stefanik had been notified of the commission’s decision. This development underscores the ongoing tension between political figures and the judiciary, as Engoron has been a repeated target of character attacks from Trump and his supporters.
Stefanik, who took over as the chair of the House Republican Conference after Rep. Liz Cheney was removed for her criticisms of Trump, has been a staunch defender of the former president. Her support extends to her legal actions; she publicly announced her complaint against Engoron on the social media platform X last November, emphasizing her “serious concerns about … inappropriate bias and judicial intemperance shown.”
This is not Stefanik’s only foray into challenging the impartiality of judges involved in Trump’s legal matters. She has also filed a complaint against Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trump’s criminal hush money trial. Stefanik alleges that Merchan exhibited bias, partly due to his daughter’s political affiliations. Merchan’s daughter has worked for a consulting firm with ties to Democratic campaigns, a connection that Trump has repeatedly highlighted, resulting in a gag order and contempt of court ruling against him.
Stefanik’s actions reflect the broader political strategy of defending Trump at all costs, positioning her as a potential vice-presidential contender in Trump’s 2024 campaign. However, the quiet dismissal of her complaint against Engoron highlights the complexities and challenges of influencing judicial proceedings through political channels.
As the political landscape continues to grapple with the aftermath of Trump’s conviction and ongoing legal challenges, figures like Stefanik remain at the forefront, advocating for what they believe to be oversight of a judiciary they claim is biased against conservative figures. Despite setbacks such as this dismissal, the intersection of politics and law remains a contentious and highly scrutinized battlefield.
