Former President Donald Trump attended a trial related to a defamation case on Wednesday, accusing U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of bias and criticizing his alleged allegiance to former President Clinton. The trial, initiated by writer E. Jean Carroll, centers around her claim that Trump defamed her after accusing him of rape in 1996.
Following the trial proceedings, Trump, expressing discontent, took to the media to condemn Judge Kaplan’s alleged bias, labeling him a “nasty judge” and insinuating a connection between the judge’s rulings and his Clinton appointment.
During the trial, Judge Kaplan threatened to remove Trump from the courtroom due to disruptive behavior. Trump’s attorney had sought a one-week adjournment for Trump to attend the funeral of Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs. However, Judge Kaplan denied the request, emphasizing that Trump had the freedom to attend the funeral, the trial, or both.
Frustrated with the decision, Trump argued that he had requested a one-day delay to attend the funeral and criticized Kaplan for not accommodating his request. Trump claimed Kaplan forced him to choose between the funeral and trial proceedings.
In a memorandum, Judge Kaplan clarified that if Trump’s defense concluded on Thursday, excluding Trump’s testimony, the trial would pause until the following Monday, allowing Trump to attend the funeral. The trial, seeking defamation damages of at least $10 million, began on Tuesday, with Carroll accusing Trump of denying her allegations made public in 2019.
Trump’s verbal attacks on Judge Kaplan intensified in the days leading up to the trial and continued during the proceedings. Kaplan warned of removing Trump from the courtroom during Wednesday’s proceedings in response to comments made by the former president.
Carroll’s attorney alleged in a letter to Kaplan that Trump’s legal team misrepresented the need for a trial delay. The letter highlighted that Trump, contrary to claims, would be in New Hampshire for a campaign event on Wednesday night.
Melania Trump’s mother’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday in Florida, while Trump has a campaign event in Portsmouth, N.H., on Wednesday, according to his campaign website.
