According to a source cited by the New York Daily News on Tuesday, Judge Arthur Engoron is anticipated to issue his much-anticipated ruling in the $370 million civil fraud trial involving former President Donald Trump on Friday, with the caveat of “barring unforeseen circumstances.”
The ruling is set to come after a tense exchange between the New York City civil court judge and Trump’s legal representatives regarding a co-defendant’s alleged perjury plea deal, which may have caused a delay in Engoron’s decision-making process.
Last week, Engoron requested additional information from both Trump’s legal team and the New York Attorney General’s office regarding reports of negotiations involving Allen Weisselberg and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office concerning his testimony in the fraud trial.
Although the Attorney General’s office indicated they were unaware of details beyond what was reported by the New York Times, Alina Habba and Cliff Robert expressed their dissatisfaction with Engoron’s request through strongly worded letters.
In response, Engoron defended his stance with a letter of his own, characterizing their reactions as “completely out of bounds.”
Having previously found Trump, who maintains his innocence, liable for fraud, the forthcoming decision on Friday will determine the extent of damages Trump will be required to pay.