Trump has been threatened with dismissal for consistently neglecting house instructions and actively disrupting the trial with remarks made as the plaintiff gave her testimony.
Former President Donald Trump was warned of removal from court during a hearing in author E. Jean Carroll’s rape and defamation case raised against him.
On Wednesday, Trump attended the trial in New York but was threatened with dismissal for consistently neglecting house instructions and actively disrupting the trial with remarks made as the plaintiff gave her testimony.
Trump was given several warnings but could still be heard mumbling phrases such as “it is a witch hunt” and “it really is a con job” as he insisted on his innocence, despite the court already ruling in Carroll’s favor.
Carroll’s lawyer complained several times, noting that if he could hear Trump’s muffled jabs, then so could the jury, which could be seen going back and forth between listening to Carroll’s testimony and hearing Trump’s remarks.
The judge on the case, Lewis Kaplan, addressed Trump during recess, saying, “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial. I understand you’re probably very eager for me to do that.” Trump, unbothered, said he “would love it.” Kaplan then called out Trump’s lack of self-control.
In response, Trump gave reporters outside the courthouse a rundown of Kaplan, alluding that the judge has a personal vendetta against him and accusing him of unprofessionalism and “abuse”.
Trump also requested that the judge be replaced under claims of bias, which was denied.
In 2022, Carroll’s lawyers filed a follow-up lawsuit for defamation after he denied raping her in a social media post on his platform, Truth Social.
Carroll’s testimony was nothing short of emotional and accusatory. She stated that she decided to speak out against Trump because of the lies he kept spreading about her, causing significant damage to her reputation and credibility.
The Associated Press reported her speech while she testified.
“He has continued to lie. He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me,” Carroll said.
She also revealed some explicit messages sent to her by Trump supporters, calling her all sorts of names and going as far as to send her death threats. Carroll had to apologize to the jury following a few disturbing messages.
She claimed her contract ended after 25 years of being a columnist at Elle, although the organization said it was for unrelated reasons. Displaying how Trump endangered her life, Carroll said she had to purchase a gun, install electric fences, and contemplated employing security but remarked that it was something she could not afford.
It is worth noting that throughout the testimony, Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, made several objections to distract the jury. She also motioned for an adjourning trial so Trump could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral, who passed away last week. After the motion was rejected, clear frustration was evident among Trump’s team, with the defendant slamming his hand on the table and lawyers calling the move “insanely prejudicial”.
Source: AMayadeen
