Judge in Trump Fraud Trial Evacuated After Fire Lit Outside Courtroom (Video)

Four hours after testimony wrapped in the civil-fraud trial against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization, the lower Manhattan courthouse was evacuated after someone set papers on fire and then used multiple fire extinguishers on the same floor as the courtroom.

The judge in the case, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, was in his robing room when he heard shouting on the floor. He was safely escorted out of the courthouse.

The judge was unaware of any specific personal threat at the time he evacuated.

Two courthouse officials told Business Insider the evacuation was prompted by a man creating a small fire by igniting paperwork and then setting off two or more fire extinguishers. The man, who was not identified and was not a courthouse employee, was arrested, they said.

Fire and police personnel quickly responded to the incident.

Four hours after testimony concluded in the Trump civil fraud trial in New York, it appears some joker pulled, and used, a fire extinguisher on the same floor of the courthouse. Two court officials told me that the prankster was quickly taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/A9Sl1ztHBx

— Laura Italiano (@Italiano_Laura) December 13, 2023

At around 5 p.m., the judge and other employees on the fourth floor were allowed to go upstairs to collect their belongings before leaving for the day.

One officer told the judge and others returning to the fourth floor, “If you have a mask, wear your mask,” because the floor was contaminated by chemicals from the fire extinguishers.

No one was hurt in the incident, a strange coda to the conclusion of testimony; it was not immediately clear what prompted the man to set the fire.

Original Article