Defamation Trial Judge Threatens To Eject Trump

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump faced off against U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan during trial proceedings in New York City. The latest episode came in the trial centered around writer E. Jean Carroll’s allegations and subsequent defamation case against Trump.

Carroll accused Trump of misconduct in a luxury department store dressing room in 1996, an allegation Trump vehemently denies. The current trial follows a previous one where a jury found Trump liable for defamation but not for Carroll’s more serious allegations. Carroll seeks compensatory and punitive damages in the current trial phase, reportedly totaling around $10 million.

The drama unfolded when Judge Kaplan warned Trump about his conduct in the courtroom. Trump, known for his unfiltered style, had made several comments audible to the jury, including referring to the trial as a “witch hunt” and a “con job.” Kaplan warned Trump, “Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited if he is disruptive.”

When Kaplan suggested Trump might be eager to be thrown out, Trump retorted, “I would love it.”

Trump’s legal team, too, found themselves at odds with Kaplan. Trump attorney Alina Habba’s requests for a trial delay were repeatedly denied, leading to a heated exchange.

Trump’s ongoing legal battles in biased criminal and civil proceedings have become a part of his political narrative. During his recent fraud trial in New York, Trump’s legal woes worked against the plans of Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James, as the publicity generated by that trial only served to bolster the 45th president’s position in the GOP presidential primary race. President Trump’s approach to managing his suddenly crowded legal schedule has energized the America First base, which is becoming more frustrated with the two-tiered justice system being weaponized by establishment politicians.

As the Carroll trial progresses, seeing how the judge handling the case treats President Trump as a defendant in his courtroom will be interesting. In that the earlier portion of the trial saw a liberal Manhattan jury decide that President Trump is guilty of an act he stridently denies based only on the testimony of the plaintiff who is seeking millions in damages, the matter is sure to end up being resolved by a higher appeals court in any event.