NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump lashed out in a New York courtroom on Wednesday in the E. Jean Carroll damages trial, causing the judge to threaten to eject him from the courtroom.
The moment came during Carroll’s testimony about how he repeatedly defamed her.
“Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive” and “if he disregards court orders,” U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan told Trump and his attorney. “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial. I understand you are very eager for me to do that,” the judge said.
“I would love it. I would love it,” Trump responded.
“I know you would because you just can’t control yourself in this circumstances, apparently,” the judge responded.
During a lunch break, Trump attacked the judge on Truth Social, calling Kaplan a “seething and hostile Clinton-appointed Judge.” “He is abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial but, that’s the way this crooked system works!” he said.
Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley told the judge that Trump had been making comments, saying some statements were “false” and making jokes about Carroll’s memory.
“I’m just going to ask Mr. Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when he’s conferring with counsel so that the jury does not overhear it,” the judge said.
Trump has denied attacking Carroll and maintains the case is “fiction.”
