In a report by Newsweek on Saturday, February 17, 2024, Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, sparked controversy by criticizing New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly removing her shoes during Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial.
The trial, initiated by James in September 2022, accused Trump and associates of fraudulently inflating assets to secure loans. Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling ordered Trump to pay approximately $355 million in damages and barred him from serving as a director of any New York corporation for three years.
Trump denounced the verdict, pledging to appeal and branding Engoron as “a crooked New York state judge.” Habba’s condemnation of James’s courtroom conduct led to heated debate, with allegations of unprofessionalism and disrespect from both sides.
Habba claimed on Fox News with Sean Hannity that James removed her shoes in court, suggesting a lack of seriousness. She alleged that James appeared relaxed, holding a Starbucks coffee, instead of diligently fulfilling her responsibilities at the council table.
“I called it out in the closing argument, but it’s true. She had a Starbucks coffee in her hand, she wasn’t doing work, she wasn’t sitting at the council chamber, she wasn’t sitting at the council table, she was in the back with her shoes off and a coffee,” Habba stated.
Habba argued that such behavior exemplifies a decline in professionalism among attorney generals, undermining the integrity of the legal system. In response, James’s office denounced the allegations as baseless and an attempt to distract from the substantive issues of the case.
Legal experts emphasized that the focus should remain on the trial’s legal merits rather than peripheral issues. The controversy reveals heightened tensions surrounding Trump’s legal battles and their potential impact on the 2024 election cycle. As Trump and his legal team continue to contest rulings, public discourse around legal proceedings is likely to intensify.
