US District Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Trump that he could be removed from the courtroom if he didn’t stop being disruptive.
Disrupting Proceedings
The verbal brawl started with Trump allegedly becoming annoyed during E. Jean Carroll’s testimony. Carroll was describing how she was negatively affected by Trump’s claims that she had lied about him raping her.
Can’t Keep Quiet
According to Carroll’s lawyer, Trump repeatedly muttered about Carroll’s claims. The lawyer said Trump could be heard saying, “It really is a con job,” “It’s a witch hunt,” and sarcastically accusing Carroll of “finally getting her memory back.”
Bad Influence
Carroll’s lawyer argued that these comments were loud enough to be heard by the jurors, and could therefore influence them.
Stern Warning
“Mr. Trump has the right to be present here,” Judge Kaplan said, “but that right can be forfeited if he is as disruptive as what has been reported to me. Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial.”
Petulant Response
Trump responded by throwing up his hands. “I would love that,” he said.
Back and Forth
“I know you would like that,” Kaplan responded. “You just can’t control yourself.” “You can’t either,” Trump shot back.
No Further Incidents
Following Judge Kaplan’s warning — and a lunch break — Trump sat through the rest of the trial without interrupting.
Not the First Time
This is actually Carroll’s second defamation trial against Trump. In May, the first concluded in her favor, and she was awarded $5 million in damages.
Second Time Round
However, the author sued Trump again, over a different set of allegedly defamatory comments. This time, she is seeking $12 million in damages, plus additional punitive damages.
Devastating Act
“I am here to get my reputation back,” Carroll told the jury on Wednesday. She said that her reputation had been “shattered” by Trump’s description of her as a liar.
Online Harassment
Carroll told the jury that she is regularly accused of being a “liar” and “whack job” by people online. “To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on Earth, calling me a liar for three days,” Carroll said, “and saying I’m a liar 26 times — I counted them — it ended the world that I had been living in, and I am in a new world.”
Timeline
Carroll first came forward with her story in 2019. Trump reacted by claiming, “I’ve never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book – that should indicate her motivation.” However, Judge Kaplan eventually ruled that “the fact that Mr Trump sexually abused – indeed, raped – Ms Carroll has been conclusively established and is binding in this case.”
Full of Drama
Judge Kaplan also had to reprimand Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney. At one moment, after Habba claimed she had already provided a reference to something she was referencing, Kaplan told her off: “Ms. Habba, we’re going to do it my way in this courtroom, and that’s all there is to it. You can give me the page and line, and then I’ll look at it, and then we’ll see if we go on from there.”
Fierce Comments
Habba’s insistence on complaining about Kaplan not letting the trial occur on Friday, so Trump could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral, also annoyed the judge. “I will hear no further argument on it, none,” Kaplain admonished. “Do you understand that word — none?”
Denied Again
“Your honor,” Habba replied, “I will ask you to refrain from speaking to me like that.” “Denied,” Kaplan responded.
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