During the civil defamation trial’s second day, there were multiple heated exchanges.
The judge once made a threat to remove Mr. Trump from the courtroom after he was heard disparaging her testimony.
Although a jury found Mr. Trump guilty of sexually abusing Ms. Carroll last year, he still contests the allegation.
Ms. Carroll received a $5 million award after he was found accountable for defamation and sexual abuse but not for rape. His 2022 statements that her story was a “con job” and a “hoax” served as the foundation for that trial.
The current case centers on various statements made by Mr. Trump in 2019 while he was president, during which he referred to her allegation as “totally false” and which the judge has already determined were defamatory. Further damages will be determined in this second trial.
However, a large portion of Wednesday’s proceedings featured heated exchanges between Mr. Trump and the judge, who made threats to withdraw the former president’s ability to attend the trial after hearing him refer to the case as a “witch hunt” and attack his accuser’s memory in front of the jury.
Judge Kaplan stated, “Mr. Trump has a right to be present here,” with annoyance in his voice. “That right may be revoked, and it may be revoked if he continues to be disruptive, as he has reported to me,
“Mr. Trump,” he said further. “Hopefully, I won’t need to think about disqualifying you from the trial. I know you’re probably excited for me to carry that out.”
With a “I would love it,” the former president answered. “I understand you’re probably very eager for me to do that because you just can’t control yourself in these circumstances,” Judge Kaplan responded.
