A letter containing white powder was discovered Wednesday at the New York City courthouse of Judge Arthur Engoron, who recently delivered a $350 million verdict against former President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the matter, NBC News reported.
The letter, which prompted an emergency response, was intercepted before reaching Judge Engoron or his staff, as his mail undergoes pre-screening on a daily basis. However, a court officer and a court employee were exposed to the substance but sustained no injuries, the source confirmed. ABC News first reported the incident.
This is not the first threat against Judge Engoron. Last month, police on Long Island responded to a bomb threat at his residence, occurring just hours before the scheduled closing arguments in the Trump trial.
During the trial’s proceedings last year, officials revealed in a court filing that both Judge Engoron and his law clerk faced a barrage of threats following repeated criticisms by Trump on social media. Many of these threats were deemed credible by law enforcement.
In response to the escalating threats, court officials collaborated with the FBI and Homeland Security to devise security measures aimed at safeguarding Judge Engoron, his staff, and individuals closely associated with him, including his family, according to court documents.
Trump’s legal team has consistently maintained that he cannot be held responsible for the actions of his supporters.
