Donald Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, earned an objection from E. Jean Carroll's lawyers with the first line of her opening statement, and it's already causing mockery.
Those outside the courtroom could monitor the goings-on, thanks to live postings from Politico's Erica Orden and Matthew Russell Lee of the Inner City Press.
"President Trump defended himself when publicly accused—" the Trump lawyer told the jury in her opening line before being cut off. As the judge explained to the lawyers and the jury, they weren't there to retry the case and explain why Trump did what he did. The case before them is to decide how much she will be awarded from Trump.
Read More: 'Disdain for the judge': Experts shocked by Trump lawyer Alina Habba's courtroom clash
The judge explained that she couldn't go much beyond her statement. Still, a few moments later Habba claimed that Carroll "waited 30 years," presumably saying she waited until he was president to accuse him of sexual assault. She was cut off in that case too. So, she left it that that.
Habba's claim is that Carroll's career began to falter in 2014 and that she had to do something to become famous. Carroll didn't accuse Trump of sexual assault until 2019, when New York increased the statute of limitations on legal accusations.
“She has gained more fame, more notoriety than she could have ever dreamed of," claimed Habba.
Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, Molly Jong-Fast, a friend of Carroll's, said that at 80 years old, Carroll doesn't dream of "fame," and the idea of being a punching bag for the president at that age seems unrealistic.
Still, Habba maintained: "She wanted status. We will show you that she wanted the attention, and it was planned."
MSNBC's Katie Phang disagreed: "Habba just doesn't get it."
"Yeah, everyone! Trump is just 'giving E. Jean Carrol what she wants,'" quipped Holly Figueroa O'Reilly. "What a weird defense, considering he’s already been found liable for sexual assault."
Ben Meiselas of MeidasTouch similarly pointed out the comment, saying that Trump's defense appears to be that she was asking for it.
