In a trial determining the defamation damages owed to writer E. Jean Carroll, a New York federal judge issued a stern warning to former President Trump for potential removal from the courtroom due to disruptive behavior. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan acknowledged Trump’s right to be present but emphasized that it could be forfeited if he continued to disrupt proceedings and defy court orders.
The judge’s caution came in response to a complaint from Carroll’s lawyer, alleging that Trump had failed to adhere to orders to lower his voice and had been making audible comments to jurors, including characterizing the trial as a “witch hunt” and a “con job.” In response, Trump expressed eagerness for the judge to exclude him from the trial, prompting Judge Kaplan to note Trump’s apparent inability to control himself in the given circumstances.
Earlier in the day, Trump had made comments implying dishonesty on Carroll’s part regarding her assault, suggesting that she had “gotten her memory back.” Carroll has accused Trump of assaulting her in a department store dressing room in 1996, and after publicly sharing her story in a 2019 memoir, Trump undermined her credibility.
In a previous trial last May, a jury concluded that Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll but did not support her claim of rape. Trump was absent from that trial, which resulted in Carroll being awarded $5 million in damages. In the ongoing proceedings, Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages along with additional punitive damages.
Trump has strategically leveraged his legal battles to enhance his standing in the GOP presidential primary. During a fraud trial in New York, he frequently addressed crowds from courthouse hallways, raised funds, and clashed with a judge he accused of bias. Despite these legal challenges, Trump has emerged victorious in the Iowa caucuses and leads in national polls, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the political landscape.