Appearing on CNN just moments after Donald Trump stormed out of the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial with the jury already seated, former Department of Justice official Harry Litman told CNN that the former president is "just begging" the jury to slam him with massive punitive damages.
Speaking with host Sara Sidner, Litman explained that the antics of Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba — who was threatened with being sent to "lock-up" on Friday — are going to push up the price when the jury returns with a dollar amount for damages.
"I want to say about Trump's exit today, that might be a surprise or drama on TV, in real life in federal court it is mind-boggling," he began. "It just doesn't happen and, of course, it just drips with contempt for the whole process, for the plaintiff, for the jury; it is almost calculated."
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"First he proves the very point that the lawyer was saying, he [Trump] thinks rules don't apply to him," he added before explaining, "Everybody, everybody sits still and respectfully for closing arguments and it virtually begs the jury to impose stratospheric punitive damages."
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