Former President Donald Trump took to social media on Sunday, January 14, 2024, expressing profound dissatisfaction with Judge Lewis Kaplan, whom he accused of being “terrible, biased, and irrationally angry.” Trump’s criticism revolves around the trial he dubs as the “Bergdorf’s Hoax,” presided over by Judge Kaplan, appointed by Bill Clinton.
Trump, through his post on Truth Social, claims that despite the impending funeral of his mother-in-law next week, Judge Kaplan has refused to postpone what he labels a “sham trial.” He contends that the judge’s alleged lack of empathy is indicative of a broader bias that has tainted the proceedings from the start of what he terms “Crooked Joe Biden’s Election Interfering Witch Hunt.”
The former president vehemently denies any acquaintance with the woman at the center of the allegations, emphasizing that a mere photo line encounter does not qualify as a meeting. Trump raises doubts about the credibility of the accusations, pointing to the alleged victim’s faulty memory regarding essential details surrounding the event.
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Continuing his narrative, Trump accuses the woman’s attorney, described as a “Democrat disgraced operative,” of attempting to blackmail him with a dress. He highlights that, once it was revealed the dress had no connection to him, the judge allegedly complied with their request to exclude it from evidence.
Trump brings up a previous encounter with the same attorney, claiming victory in another “Election Interference type Hoax” a few months prior. This reference adds a layer to Trump’s narrative, portraying a pattern of what he characterizes as politically motivated legal challenges.
The former president’s dissatisfaction is palpable in his use of strong language, referring to the trial as a “sham,” the investigation as a “Crooked Joe Biden’s Election Interfering Witch Hunt,” and labeling the judge a “Radical Judge.” These expressions paint a picture of a legal environment deeply biased and unfair from his perspective.
Analyzing Trump’s statements reveals emotional undertones, incorporating political framing by terming the trial a “Bergdorf’s Hoax” and highlighting Judge Kaplan’s appointment by Clinton. The choice of phrases like “ruthlessly unfair” and “Radical Judge” seeks to portray the legal proceedings as fundamentally prejudiced against Trump.
The reference to his mother-in-law’s funeral introduces a personal element, attempting to garner sympathy and questioning the judge’s humanity for not postponing the trial under such circumstances—a classic Trump strategy using personal anecdotes to humanize himself in the eyes of the public.
Additionally, Trump strategically weaves in past incidents, such as the alleged blackmail attempt with the dress, to bolster his argument that these legal challenges are part of a larger pattern against him. By claiming victory in a previous encounter with the same attorney, he reinforces the notion that he is a victim of repeated politically motivated attacks.
