In a remarkable turn of events, Former President Donald Trump abruptly exited the Manhattan federal court during the closing arguments of a high-profile defamation trial brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. The unexpected departure occurred shortly after Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, began advocating for at least $12 million in damages, arguing that Trump’s public denouncements had severely damaged Carroll’s reputation.
Eyewitnesses reported that Trump, appearing agitated, suddenly stood up from the defense table and left the courtroom, followed closely by Secret Service agents. This action prompted a reaction from Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who briefly paused the proceedings to acknowledge Trump’s exit.
The incident followed an earlier confrontation in which Judge Kaplan warned Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, of potential jail time for disregarding his instructions to cease speaking. This tense exchange highlighted the charged atmosphere of the trial, which centers on Carroll’s allegations of sexual assault and defamation by Trump.
In a trial that has captured national attention, Carroll’s legal team seeks over $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Trump’s legal defense argues that Carroll’s association with Trump has brought her the fame she desired, and that any threats she received cannot be directly attributed to Trump’s remarks.
The jury, tasked with determining whether additional damages are owed for statements Trump made in June 2019, has been instructed to accept the verdict of a previous trial which concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll in 1996. However, they did not find him guilty of rape as defined under New York state law.
This trial’s outcome is eagerly awaited, as it not only involves a former President but also delves into issues of sexual abuse, public reputation, and the legal boundaries of defamation.
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