WASHINGTON — New York state authorities have pressed charges against an individual accused of sending threatening messages to Judge Arthur Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James, a source with direct knowledge of the situation disclosed to NBC News.
Engoron presided over the civil fraud trial involving former President Donald Trump, resulting in Trump and executives at his company being hit with a more than $464 million fraud judgment.
James led the fraud case against Trump. Tyler Vogel, 26, from Lancaster, New York, is facing a felony charge for allegedly making a terroristic threat against James after locating her information online and threatening her with death or injury if she did not drop her case against Trump, the source stated.
Vogel also faces a separate felony charge for allegedly making a terroristic threat towards Engoron. Additionally, he has been charged with two counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree, a misdemeanor, for these threats.
In his message to Engoron, Vogel allegedly stated that he would take action against the judge if Trump were to be imprisoned or if his properties were seized as part of the case.
The source also claimed that Vogel criticized Engoron's actions as un-American and asserted Trump's innocence.
The date for Vogel's next court appearance is unknown, and it is unclear whether he has entered a plea. Neither Engoron's nor James' offices responded immediately to s' requests for comment on Wednesday night.
Engoron and James have faced repeated threats for their roles in the Trump civil fraud case. previously reported that Engoron received an envelope containing white powder in February, leading to an emergency response at his New York City courthouse. Fortunately, Engoron was not exposed to the substance.
In January, police responded to a bomb threat at Engoron's home. James has also reported threats to her life.
The former president has frequently criticized Engoron and James and condemned the multimillion-dollar judgment against him.
Trump posted a $175 million bond on Monday after the bond amount was reduced; initially, he was liable for $454 million.