Trump judge threatens to kick him out as E Jean Carroll testifies : Live – The Independent

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Former president juggling latest legal battle with campaigning ahead of New Hampshire primary
Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile
Day two of Donald Trump’s defamation trial has concluded in New York, with his accuser E Jean Carroll on the stand testifying about the former president.
The case was brought against the Republican presidential candidate by the former Elle magazine columnist after she accused him of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s, for which Mr Trump was found liable last year.
“I’m here because I was assaulted by Donald Trump and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied. And he shattered my reputation,” Ms Carroll testified.
Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing. Judge Lewis Kaplan threatened to remove him from court for commenting during testimony, to which he responded: “I would love it.” Railing that the trial was rigged he claimed he was the one damaged not Ms Carroll.
Meanwhile, with New Hampshire’s all-important primary next week, the former president is hoping to keep up the momentum after storming to victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.
Mr Trump notched up more than 51 per cent of the vote, while his Republican challengers Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley followed way behind in second and third place with 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.
Moments after the second day of a jury trial to determine how much money he owes a woman he defamed for lying about sexually abusing her, Donald Trump claimed that he is the one who suffered damages.
The former president – on trial a second time for defaming E Jean Carroll, who has accused Mr Trump of sexually assaulting her and then lying about never meeting her – briefly spoke at his 40 Wall Street property after jurors in a federal courtroom heard several hours of testimony from the former Elle magazine writer.
Mr Trump, who baselessly casts his growing pile of legal challenges as a Democratic conspiracy to keep him away from the White House, called the trial “rigged” and “election interference” based on a “made-up, fabricated story”.
Alex Woodward watched the former president’s remarks after the day in court:
Trump says ‘I should be given money’ after listening to testimony from woman he sexually abused
Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, ripped into House Speaker Mike Johnson after the Republican congressman said Joe Biden’s presidency was “God’s will.”
Mr Bannon has spent the last several years hosting his War Room right-wing podcast, and made clear on a recent episode that he disagreed with Mr Johnson’s take on Mr Biden’s presidency.
Mr Johnson made the comments on Wednesday during a press conference. He was asked if Mr Biden’s presidency was “God’s will.”
“It must have been God’s will,” Mr Johnson, a Southern Baptist Christian, said.
Mr Bannon said the House Speaker’s comments would make “heads blow up”.
Graig Graziosi reports:
Right-wing agitator said men like the Speaker would lead to ‘mass conversions’ to Islam
In a new court filing, lawyers for former president Donald Trump argued that the federal case against him for allegedly holding onto classified documents is “politically motivated.”
The documents, which were filed Tuesday, lay out the possible legal strategy Trump’s defence team plans to use to combat the criminal charges against him.
Julia Reinstein reports:
Donald Trump has unleashed a barrage of disparaging memes against his political rival Nikki Haley, including a crudely photoshopped image seemingly comparing her to Hillary Clinton.
The former president made multiple posts on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday and Wednesday, following his decisive win at the Iowa caucuses, and ahead of their next clash in New Hampshire next week.
Mike Bedigan reports:
The former president made a barrage of posts attacking his former UN ambassador on his social media platform Truth Social
…and here’s his take on how the trial went today:
This was an amazing Day of Trial. We learned that E. Jean Carroll is no “baby.” She admitted on the stand to deleting massive amounts of evidence, under subpoena, which is a crime. Based on that alone, both this trial and the first trial should be immediately dismissed! Additionally, she first admitted to having a gun without a license, but then admitted to buying bullets for a rifle, not a handgun, which perhaps makes no sense. Her lawyers went crazy—and so did the Judge trying to protect her and this Complete and Total Election Interfering Witch Hunt!
Which is an interesting perspective on things…
Donald Trump has previewed his post-court press conference with three wordy Truth Social posts in which he claims there are huge conflicts of interest in the trial; he is damaged — not Ms Carroll; the judge is partisan and has abused his power; and the whole New York court system is rigged.
Court has concluded for the day and Donald Trump is heading over to his property at 40 Wall Street for another impromptu news conference.
The former president stood and walked out before the jury had even exited with E Jean Carroll still seated in the witness box.
Attorney Alina Habba said she still has approximately 30 minutes of cross-examination left for tomorrow morning.
In one of the more bizarre moments of a very questionable cross-examination of Ms Carroll, Trump lawyer Alina Habba requested a mistrial over the admission by the plaintiff to having deleted threatening messages.
Judge Kaplan denied the motion and instructed the jury to disregard everything Habba had said.
Ms Carroll said she would delete offensive messages she received via social media and email — though stopped deleting them in 2023 when legal proceedings got underway in the first trial.
None of the messages were shown to law enforcement or her lawyers.
Ms Carroll said she had expected some backlash from the allegations against then-president Donald Trump in her 2019 book, but the scale and vehemence of it — including death threats — shocked her.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
E Jean Carroll testifies at Donald Trump’s second defamation trial as the former president looks on
REUTERS
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Log in
New to The Independent?
Or if you would prefer:
Want an ad-free experience?

source