Court staff and Judge Engoron face a surge in violent threats and harassment following Trump’s online attacks

The court overseeing Donald Trump’s fraud trial in New York has been inundated with a torrent of credible death threats and antisemitic abuse, according to the court’s public safety officer. The harassment began after Trump targeted Judge Arthur Engoron and his staff online, leading to an escalation of threats against them.

A filing revealed that both Judge Engoron and his clerk received hundreds of violent messages, including threats of execution and severe personal insults, some of which were transcribed into over 275 pages of voicemails. One chilling message said, “You should be executed,” while another warned, “I will come for you. I don’t care. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me either.”

These threats have prompted the court to implement gag orders to prevent further harassment. However, when Trump violated these orders, the flood of abusive messages intensified. According to Charles Hollon, an officer with the court’s Department of Public Safety, the threats have created an ongoing security risk not just for the judge and his staff, but also for their families.

Trump’s comments about court clerk Allison Greenfield sparked even more abuse, with her personal information being compromised and subjected to daily harassment, much of it antisemitic in nature. The filing details harrowing voicemail transcriptions, including one that subjected Greenfield to disgusting verbal abuse.

In response to the increasing threats, Judge Engoron has appealed to higher courts, stating that the First Amendment protections for Trump and his attorneys do not outweigh the need to protect the court staff from violence and intimidation.

This legal battle, part of the ongoing lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James, could potentially lead to a collapse of Trump’s real estate empire in New York, with substantial fines on the horizon.

Federal judges are also considering gag orders in another case involving Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, as similar patterns of threats and harassment have emerged against legal professionals involved in his cases.

The ongoing attacks on the judiciary and court staff illustrate a growing culture of intimidation stemming from Trump’s rhetoric, raising concerns about the safety of those working on his numerous legal challenges.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran speaks out about personal loss and urges for a ceasefire in Gaza

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has revealed in the House of Commons that a family member has tragically died in Gaza, describing it as the “most difficult day” of her parliamentary career. Moran, the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who has previously spoken about her Palestinian heritage, shared the devastating news that her relative, who had been trapped in Gaza, passed away due to health complications, likely exacerbated by a lack of food and medical care.

Moran explained that her family member did not die as a result of direct violence, such as bombing, but rather from the ongoing humanitarian crisis, with limited access to hospitals and basic necessities. She went on to explain the importance of backing calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, highlighting that the situation was not about party politics but about humanity.

“I wanted to vote for peace today,” she said, calling for a two-state solution and an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering for both Palestinians and Israelis. Moran emphasised the need for an end to the cycle of violence, urging her colleagues to consider the personal and human impact of the conflict.

Moran also expressed her frustration with the language used by some MPs, referring to the Prime Minister’s earlier comments about not being on the side of Israel. She urged MPs from all sides to recognise that the issue at hand was far beyond political differences.

In response to her emotional statement, Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans extended his condolences, though he reminded Moran that her point of order was not a matter for the chair and subsequently cut her off.

Shadow ministers Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, and Paula Barker step down to support a ceasefire in Gaza, as party unity crumbles.

Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has been struck by a rebellion within his own ranks, as three shadow ministers resigned in protest over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza. Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan, and Paula Barker announced their resignations on Wednesday evening, confirming their intention to vote in favour of an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

This move comes amid growing discontent within the Labour Party over Starmer’s stance on the ongoing conflict. Two other frontbenchers, Naz Shah and Helen Hayes, are also facing the threat of being sacked after signalling their support for the rival ceasefire amendment. Labour MPs had been instructed to abstain from the vote and instead back Starmer’s position of supporting “humanitarian pauses” in the conflict, rather than a full ceasefire.

In the House of Commons, the SNP’s amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire was rejected with 293 votes against 125, a majority of 168. While Starmer urged his colleagues to stand by his position, the resignations have revealed deep divisions within the Labour Party, especially on the issue of how best to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Following the vote, Starmer expressed his disappointment that his colleagues had not supported his approach. “I have consistently called for humanitarian pauses to allow aid into Gaza and to address the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. Much more needs to be done to alleviate the crisis,” he said. He reiterated his commitment to a long-term strategy aimed at securing peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, stressing that leadership required making tough decisions in difficult times.

These latest resignations come after Imran Hussain stepped down from his position earlier this month, also in response to Starmer’s position on Gaza. As the Labour leader struggles to maintain party unity, these developments mark a significant challenge to his leadership.

A proposal calling for sanctions against Israel and the expulsion of its ambassador fails as thousands protest outside the Dáil

In a heated session on Tuesday, the Irish Parliament voted down a motion that called for the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador, Dana Erlich, and the imposition of various economic and diplomatic sanctions against the country. The motion, proposed by the Social Democrats, also urged the Irish government to use its influence in Brussels to seek the suspension of the EU-Israel trade deal and to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court over its actions in Gaza.

Outside the Oireachtas, more than a thousand protesters gathered, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Among the demonstrators were several high-profile politicians, including Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty and Matt Carthy, as well as Social Democrat leader Holly Cairns.

In response to the motion, Minister of State James Browne tabled a counter-proposal, arguing that maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel was essential. Browne’s amendment, which excluded calls for sanctions, was passed by 85 votes to 55. He emphasized the importance of Ireland’s continued diplomatic engagement, even in times of conflict, to ensure open communication channels and to avoid isolating the country from international discussions on the crisis.

Cairns, who opened the debate, accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, criticising the government for replacing calls for sanctions with mere “platitudes.” She argued that more concrete actions were necessary, pointing out the failure of Western leaders to demand a ceasefire and highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy also condemned the international community’s response, expressing shame over the EU’s failure to take a firm stance against Israeli actions. He called for Ireland to lead by example and pressure Israel to end the violence.

The debate in the Dáil comes amid a rapidly escalating humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with the Irish government reiterating its support for Israel’s right to self-defence but also stressing the need for adherence to international law and proportionality in military actions. Calls for a ceasefire remain central to Ireland’s position as it continues to push for greater international action.