Former President Donald Trump abruptly walked out on closing arguments in Manhattan federal court Friday. E. Jean Carroll listened on as her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged a jury to send him a message to stop the abuse of her client.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 04, 2023 in New York, New York. Trump will be arraigned during his first court appearance today following an indictment by a grand jury that heard evidence about money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan interrupted Kaplan's closing argument to note on the record that Trump "just rose and walked out of the courtroom," reported The Associated Press.
When Did The Walkout Happen?
The walkout happened moments after closing began and minutes after the judge threatened to send Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, to jail for continuing to speak despite announcing her time is up.
"You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup. Now sit down," the judge told Habba.
According to AP sources, Trump had appeared agitated all morning, vigorously shaking his head during Kaplan's closing arguments.
Trump's reaction comes one day after he had left the courtroom fuming that he hadn't been allowed to refute Carroll's sexual abuse accusations.
In an article published by The Guardian, the outlet explained that Judge Lewis Kaplan had previously ruled that jurors' findings in Carroll's first trial against Trump - that he sexually abused her around late 1995 and when she came forward in 2019, defamed her - would apply in this trial. This ruling meant that the ex-president couldn't re-litigate her claims. Therefore, jurors are only weighing damages in the ongoing proceedings.
One of the questions Trump's lawyer, Habba, was allowed to ask was: "Do you stand by your testimony in the deposition?" during which he denied Carroll's claim.
"One hundred percent, yes," he replied.
"Did you deny the allegation because Ms. Carroll made an accusation?" Habba inquired.
"That's exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation. No difference," he said, prompting an objection from Carroll's team. Kaplan ordered that everything after "yes, I did" would be stricken.
"Did you ever instruct anyone to hurt Ms. Carroll in your statements?"
"No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency," Trump answered, prompting yet another objection. Kaplan ordered that everything after "no" be stricken, meaning jurors were directed to disregard his commentary.
Carroll's lawyers seek, according to the AP report, over $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
