Trump knocks judge in NY fraud case after fine: 'He has gone crazy in his hatred'

Former President Trump said the judge in his New York civil trial "has gone crazy in his hatred," after he fine the former president $10,000 for violating a gag order imposed in the case.

"The judge in the New York State [attorney general (AG)] case refuses to accept the overturning of his decisions by the Appeals Court. This is a first in the history of the State! HE HAD GONE CRAZY IN HIS HATRED OF 'TRUMP,'" Trump wrote Thursday in a Truth Social post.

In an unexpected twist Wednesday, Trump took the witness stand to answer a series of questions from Judge Arthur Engoron about an apparent violation of a gag order in place that prohibits Trump and other parties in the case from speaking about the judge's staff.

The violation was in connection to a comment the former president made to reporters about a "very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside him, perhaps even more partisan than he is."

Engoron suggested Trump was referring to his principal law clerk, who sits to the right of the judge. Trump denied this and said he was instead referencing his ex-fixer Michael Cohen, who testified this week and is a key witness in New York Attorney General Letitia James's (D) fraud case against Trump.

Responding to Engoron's questions, the former president said he thinks the judge's clerk is "very biased against us."

Upon leaving the stand, Engoron issued an order fining Trump $10,000.

"The Radical Left Judge who should not be handling the FAKE & FULLY DISCREDITED CASE brought against me by the New York State A.G. (It should be handled by the Commercial Division, but should never have been brought!), fined me $10,000 under his so-called gag order," Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post Thursday, adding he believes the judge found him guilty "before the trial even started."

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump described the trial judge as "unhinged" and a "highly political and fully biased Trump Hater."

While on the stand Wednesday, Trump pointed to his removal of a previous Truth Social post that prompted the gag order. The post falsely claimed the clerk was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) "girlfriend," and it included personally identifying information about her. A Schumer spokesperson called the post "ridiculous, absurd and false" in a statement to The Hill.

While Trump removed the post, it remained on Trump's campaign website for another 17 days. Engoron then fined Trump $5,000 for violating the order and warned another violation could lead to serious punishment.

Trump said Wednesday he believed a political group affiliated with his campaign left the post up.

James's lawsuit against Trump, the Trump organization and Trump's sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. alleges more than a decade of financial fraud.