ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—UNITE HERE Local 154 president Bob McDevitt issued a harsh response to comments made by Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross charging the union with not negotiating in good faith with Trump Entertainment to cut Taj Mahal employee benefits.

Judge Gross ruled last week that Trump Entertainment could stop paying for health care and pensions of UNITE HERE Local 54 workers at the Taj Mahal. In addition to not negotiating in good faith, the judge also said the union did not present witnesses at two evidentiary hearings held earlier this month, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Local 54's McDevitt called the bankruptcy court in Wilmington, DE a “kangaroo court.” He also accused attorneys representing primary Taj debt holder Carl Icahn of lying in court. He charged that Icahn's attorneys said in talks with the union that Icahn would have right of first refusal to any agreement between the union and Trump Entertainment, but later in court denied saying it.

“I'm embarrassed for Carl Icahn, who is supposed to be the wolf of Wall Street, but he spent his time hiding behind the skirts of a federal judge instead of engaging the truth,” McDevitt said. See story in the Press of Atlantic City.