Lawyers for former President Donald Trump filed for a mistrial on Wednesday in his New York fraud case.

The request cited "tainted" proceedings targeting Trump by the judge and others involved in the case.

Trump requests mistrial in New York civil fraud case https://t.co/kyLeZhlPZT

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 16, 2023

The conflict

"The motion marks the latest conflict between Trump's legal team and Judge Arthur Engoron, who issued a gag order against the former president that blocks him from publicly commenting about Engoron's law clerk," the Washington Examiner reported.

"Trump has been fined a total of $15,000 for two violations of the order by his team," it added.

Donald Trump and his co-defendants asked a judge Wednesday to grant a mistrial in the $250 million civil business fraud case that threatens the former president's business empire. https://t.co/jgoc6vGi6E

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) November 15, 2023

Gag orders and more

"The focus on the clerk comes after Engoron barred defense attorneys from commenting on his staff, citing a wave of threats and harassment that have 'inundated' his office since the trial began last month," NBC News reported.

"Trump himself was already bound by that same gag order, which Engoron imposed after the former president repeatedly attacked the law clerk online and at the courthouse,' it continued.

'Total lack of merit': Letitia James says no 'urgency' to reply to​ Trump mistrial requesthttps://t.co/WMVRjYKcBo

— Raw Story (@RawStory) November 16, 2023

James responds

"In a filing on Thursday, James said Trump's motion 'had a total lack of merit,'" Raw Story reported.

"If the Court does order briefing, OAG requests until December 8, 2023 to submit its opposition given the demonstrable lack of urgency, the impending Thanksgiving holiday, and the fact that the ongoing trial necessitates considerable daily attention from OAG's trial team," the filing stated.

The New York case is only one of several legal battles Trump faces in his attempt to return to the White House.

The former president also faces cases in Georgia, Florida, and Washington that include over 91 charges. The Georgia case also includes 18 co-defendants, with some already making plea deals ahead of Trump's trial, such as former lawyers Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis.

The trials have yet to slow his momentum in polls, however, as Trump continues to hold a large lead over GOP contenders. He also recently polled ahead of Biden in five of six battleground states, offering a major shakeup for the Biden campaign in the 2024 presidential election.