Donald Trump reportedly “stormed out” of the courtroom Friday right after a lawyer for E. Jean Carroll began closing arguments at his defamation trial.
That’s according to the Associated Press, which said the former president’s actions sent Secret Service scrambling.
“Just minutes after attorney Roberta Kaplan began her closing argument in Manhattan federal court, Trump suddenly rose from his seat at the defense table and walked toward the exit, pausing to scan the packed courtroom as members of the Secret Service leaped up to follow him out,” the news agency reported.
“The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom,” U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said, interrupting Carroll’s attorney.
JUST IN: Donald Trump just got up and walked out of the courtroom as E. Jean Carroll’s attorney started making her closing argument.
The rogue judge also threatened to throw Trump lawyer Alina Habba in jail.
The walkout happened as Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan was trying to… pic.twitter.com/zPEUSEPw0O
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 26, 2024
Before the GOP presidential frontrunner exited, Judge Kaplan threatened to send Trump attorney Alina Habba to jail “for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished,” AP reported.
“You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup. Now sit down,” the judge told Habba.
In his first comments after walking out, Trump said: “The Courts are totally stacked against me.”
“He wouldn’t allow us to use the totally exonerating Anderson Cooper/CNN Interview on either trial, but none of it in the second,” the former president said of the judge. “Our Legal System is in shambles! This is another Biden Demanded Witch Hunt against his Political Opponent, funded and managed by Radical Left Democrats.”
BREAKING: Trump makes first comments after storming out of courtroom in New York, says, “The Courts are totally stacked against me,” says Clinton-appointed Judge Kaplan “refuses to allow the Anderson Cooper Interview on CNN (below) of E. Jean Carroll wherein Carroll says, “Rape… pic.twitter.com/1reoVyFiln
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) January 26, 2024
In another Truth Social comment, Trump noted: “I have been considered an A-List celebrity for many decades, so even decades ago, since no one knows which date or dates to refer to, because the accusing woman can’t say the day, month, season, year, or decade, it would have been impossible for me to walk into a crowded department store (surrounded by buildings I own), right opposite the cashiers’ checkout desk, without being written about on Page Six, and every other outlet at the time.”
Trump returned to the courtroom when Habba delivered her closing argument — the attorney insisted that Carroll has “failed to show that she is entitled to any damages at all.”
Carroll claimed that Trump raped her nearly 30 years ago in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across from Trump Tower. A New York City jury decided last year that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation, and he was ordered to pay his accuser $5 million.
Trump has repeatedly denied the accusation, insisting that he has “absolutely no idea who this woman is.” The denials prompted Carroll to file a second defamation lawsuit, claiming that his response caused harm to her reputation.
Judge Kaplan already found Trump liable in the second defamation case, with the current jury being tasked with deciding how much Trump must pay Carroll in damages.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
When respect for legal process takes a back seat, walking out is a stand for dignity.
Trump walking out is a powerful statement.
In a courtroom where fairness is questioned, sometimes the loudest message is silence.
— Hank (@GCapital_LLC) January 26, 2024
Trump’s walkout is a bold statement against the absurdity of this trial. He’s right to reject the ridiculous claims by Carroll’s team. The demand for $10M? Outrageous! Shows how they’re trying to exploit the legal system for a cash grab. This isn’t justice; it’s a mockery of it.
— Frank (@FrankChronicles) January 26, 2024
This entire trial is a joke!
Seriously, this woman is a loon looking for another payday and the NY courts are going to give it to her, no matter the evidence.
This was decided before it began
— Old School Eddie (@Old_SchoolEddie) January 26, 2024
Good for President Trump.
Carroll is a who doesn’t deserve the time of day.
If anything, she’s hurt real victims of rąpe with her lies.
Trump shouldn’t waste another second around that ghoul.
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) January 26, 2024
Trump will gain several points in the polls for this ridiculous display of yet another liberal charade. Easily worth whatever he has to pay.
— First Words (@unscriptedmike) January 26, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.