Trump celebrates 'amazing day' in court where E. Jean Carroll described death threats
Donald Trump took to Truth Social Wednesday night to give his account of what he called “an amazing day” in the courtroom where E. Jean Carroll described rape and death threats she received when he called her a liar.
Carroll is suing the former president for damages over denials that he sexually abused her in a luxury department store in the 1990s. Trump has already been found liable for sex abuse and defamation; the jury trial will determine damages on the latter.
Trump is prohibited from challenging the facts of Carroll’s case in court, but he was quick to hurl insults and accusations at the former journalist and federal court Judge Lewis Kaplan on his social media site.
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“We learned that E. Jean Carroll is no ‘baby,’” Trump wrote. “Her lawyers went crazy—and so did the Judge trying to protect her and this Complete and Total Election Interfering Witch Hunt!”
Trump opened his message by declaring "This was an amazing Day of Trial," an opinion up for debate.
Several legal experts say Habba showed her inexperience as a trial lawyer and Trump’s antics angered the jury. There was also no need to capitalize the words day or trial.
Trump next hurled accusations at Carroll, writing, "She admitted on the stand to deleting massive amounts of evidence, under subpoena, which is a crime.”
Carroll told Habba on cross-direct that she deleted death threat emails she received after then-President Trump publicly called her a liar. But it's worth noting this case is taking place in civil, not criminal court, which is why Trump has been found liable, not guilty, of defamation.
“Based on that alone," Trump continued, "both this trial and the first trial should be immediately dismissed!”
Again, Trump’s opinion on the grounds for dismissal are debatable. Judge Lewis Kaplan disagreed in an angry exchange that saw him order the jury to disregard everything Habba had just said.
CNN legal analyst Renato Mariotti also noted it is common for trial judges to ask defendants to obey court rules, therefore not proof of prejudice.
“Additionally," wrote Trump, "she first admitted to having a gun without a license, but then admitted to buying bullets for a rifle, not a handgun, which perhaps makes no sense.”
Habba did ask Carroll about whether she had a license for her gun, which the writer said she bought in fear for her life after receiving “scores” of death and rape threats.
When Habba raised this line of questioning, Kaplan cut it off with the words, “don’t even start.”
Despite Trump's ongoing claims, it remains unclear how a one-week civil court trial in the state of New York that the former president is not obligated to attend constitutes election interference.