Former President Donald Trump appeared in court Wednesday for the second day in a row, and it was a wild ride.
First, a state attorney asked the judge to silence him after he interrupted a witness, then a strange woman was arrested for interrupting court proceedings, and then Trump held a press conference in which he touted a “Perry Mason”-style victory.
Silencing
Trump was in the courtroom sitting quietly “when real estate appraiser Doug Larson denied having conversations with Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney about the value of Trump’s 40 Wall Street property in 2013,” according to ABC News.
In response, the former president then “made an inaudible comment, tapped on the table, and conferred with his lawyers.” This prompted state attorney Kevin Wallace to ask Judge Arthur Engoron to silence him.
“Can the defendant please stop commenting during the witness’ testimony? I believe exhortations are audible on this side of the courtroom as well,” he said.
Judge Engoron then asked everybody to pipe down, “particularly if it’s meant to influence the testimony.”
Harassing
Next, a New York state court employee, Jenny Hannigan, disrupted court proceedings just before noon “by standing up and walking towards the front of the courtroom yelling out to Mr. Trump,” Office of Court Administration spokesperson Lucian Chalfen said.
“The court officers initially asked Hannigan to take a seat in the gallery before requesting to speak with her outside the courtroom. She entered the crowded hallway, speaking loudly and disturbing the peace within the courthouse,” according to OK! magazine.
“A group of officers surrounded her and asked her to lower her voice. Eventually, she was escorted downstairs, where she continued to yell for help and attract attention for several minutes until she was finally handcuffed,” the magazine notes.
She claimed the whole time that she just wanted to help Trump with his case.
“I have a right to be here. I’m an American citizen and I’m also a court employee. And I’m also just here to support Donald Trump,” she said at one point.
The trouble is she might be crazy.
The New York Post notes that she “was previously arrested in 2015 after going into a rage at a Brooklyn gas station,” damaging a credit card machine, and resisting arrest.
A New York state court employee was arrested Wednesday after she tried to approach former President Donald Trump claiming she wanted to help him during his ongoing civil fraud trial in lower Manhattan. She clerks for a NYC judge. Maybe worth a listening to. (Jenny Hannigan). pic.twitter.com/GEclr0uo8a
— Pragmatics (@Pragmatics13) October 18, 2023
Winning
Lastly, about midway through the court hearing, Trump took a break, during which he told reporters he’d just scored a “Perry Mason”-style victory and predicted his case will soon be “dismissed.”
The back-and-forth exchange began with a reporter asking him about Sen. Bob Menendez’ arraignment.
“Mr. President, Senator Bob Menendez is being arraigned on Monday, this superseding indictment (inaudible). What do you think about that?” the reporter said.
“Well, I don’t know very well. I wish him luck. He’s a Democrat? I wish him the best. What I did see and what you just saw was what took place in the courtroom just now. And it’s a disgrace that this case was brought. It’s election interference. That’s what they’re doing because I’m here instead of campaigning. And I guess as you. There’s a CNBC poll that has me way ahead of Biden,” Trump replied.
“Why aren’t you campaigning, sir?” another reporter then asked.
“Because I want to be at this trial because I want to see what’s happening at this trial. And because of moments like this. I’ve just knocked this trial down to the level that it should be dismissed,” the former president responded.
“Will you appeal?” a third reporter asked.
“This trial is a disgrace. This trial is a disgrace. Should have never been brought. And if you watched what just took place in the courthouse, if you report it honestly, and I’m sure you will, because it’s really no other way you can report it. The government lied. They knew everything about what just took place, and the government lied and they lied to the people,” Trump replied.
“The attorney general lied because she wanted to get elected by using Trump. And if you look at what just took place, the government has been now proven to be a liar and there has to be some kind of recourse for what’s going on. And that’s why because if I wasn’t here probably making people wouldn’t see the facts the way they are. So we’ll go inside and we’ll watch the rest of it. And I think you’ll find it very interesting,” he added.
# PERRY MASON
Daddy Trump is growing stormier and stormier by the day with this hogwash. pic.twitter.com/9QxvkChuDn
— PENNSYLVANIA IS TRUMP™ (@RED_IN_PA) October 18, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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