A courtroom spectacle on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, former President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan during writer E. Jean Carroll’s defamation trial, as reported by Mediaite.
According to Politico’s Erica Orden, Judge Kaplan cautioned Trump that his right to be present could be forfeited, stating, “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial.” In response, Trump defiantly expressed, “I would love it.” Judge Kaplan, acknowledging Trump’s penchant for confrontation, remarked, “You just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.”
The exchange unfolded after Carroll’s lawyer, Shawn Crowley, complained that Trump’s audible comments from the defense table, including terms like “witch hunt” and “con job,” could be heard by jurors. Trump’s physical expressions, such as shaking his head, and slamming his fists on the table, added to the courtroom tension.
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NBC News reported that earlier, Judge Kaplan had advised Trump to “keep his voice down” during the proceedings. The trial centers on Carroll’s accusation that Trump raped her in a Manhattan store dressing room in the 1990s, which Trump vehemently denies.
Last year, Kaplan ruled that Trump defamed Carroll by publicly rejecting her claim. The current trial focuses on determining damages for the defamatory statements. Carroll’s testimony, marking her first face-to-face encounter with Trump in court since 2019, emphasized the irreparable harm she alleges to have suffered due to Trump’s denials.
Trump’s presence at the trial, coupled with the contentious courtroom exchange, has drawn significant attention, especially given his status as the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. CNN’s Paula Reid noted the surprise surrounding Trump’s approach, but it aligns with his confrontational style amid legal and political challenges.
In a Truth Social post, Trump dismissed Carroll’s case as a “Hoax and Lie.” The courtroom drama is set to escalate as Trump is expected to testify later in the week, adding another layer to the legal and political complexities as he pursues a presidential campaign.
