Trump reportedly riled the E. Jean Carroll jury and turned himself into evidence.
If the jury needed any proof that former President Donald Trump wasn't about owning up to the serious legal process where he's accused of sexually accosting columnist E. Jean Carroll back in the mid-1990s inside of a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room — they saw it when he booked it out of the courtroom as her attorney was delivering her closing remarks.
"They sure did see Trump for who he is," said former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner during an appearance on MSNBC on Tuesday.
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Trump's truancy during the initial case appeared to benefit him, whereas his irreverent behavior, being overheard saying, "Carroll's statements are false" and "She now seems to have gotten her memory back" in court amplified the case for the prosecution and likely burned through his wallet.
Last summer, Judge Lewis Kaplan approved the jury’s $5 million for compensatory and punitive damages for sexual abuse and defamation in the civil case was reasonable. At that time Trump's attorneys tried to seek grace and reduce the number down to less than $1 million or order a new trial on damages.
Last week, the jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million — nearly ten times their initial ask of $10 million.
It's no coincidence, argues Kirschner.
"When he chooses not to appear, the jury isn't exposed to Donald Trump — they reward E. Jean Carroll $5 million. when he does appear they award her $83.3 million."
He pointed to the moment that Trump decided to up and leave the courtroom as Carroll attorney, Roberta Kaplan was in mid sentence.
"When we think about the fact that every court in the land really in every jurisdiction has rules against disrupting the proceedings and as they were arguing to the jury that 'Donald Trump is a liar who seems to believe the rules don't apply to him!' — what does he do? Jumps up and leaves court in a huff. Doing what? Disrupting the proceedings."
Those antics didn't play well to a jury, composed of two women and seven men.
"You know, that's a litigator's dream, when an opponent behave like that, I would probably say, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I would love to invite Donald Trump back into the courtroom and slap an exhibit sticker on his head."'
"He's Exhibit 1, proving the point we were arguing to you."
