Former President Donald Trump's lawyer's mile-a-minute rebuttal of E. Jean Carroll's $90 million lawsuit was almost immediately cut off by an appellate court judge with a blunt question.
Attorney John Sauer appeared in the New York federal courtroom about 10 a.m. as oral arguments commenced in Trump's appeal of the jury verdict finding him liable for defamation earlier this year.
Sauer opened by denying Carroll's claim — found credible in two civil court cases finding Trump liable of defamation and sex abuse — and asserting Trump had never met Carroll before she raised her claims.
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But Sauer was swiftly shut down by Second Circuit judge Denny Chin who warned Sauer he was fighting an uphill battle.
"Off the bat, Judge Denny Chin emphasizes Trump's uphill climb: 'It's very hard to overturn a jury verdict based on evidentiary rulings... So why should we order a new trial here?'" reporter Adam Klasfeld said.
Sauer and the Second Circuit panel launched into a rapid back-and-forth debate about evidence presented in the January trial — namely the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump boasts of his ability to grope women without consent or consequence — only to find himself again shut down by Chin.
"Mr. Sauer, you're talking so fast," Chin said. "You could slow down a little."
Sauer was forced to apologize and explain, "It's an important case, and I'm passionate about it."
