During the closing arguments in the second defamation trial of American author E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump, the former American president surprisingly left the courtroom. Shortly after Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan began her plea on Friday, Trump stood up without notice and left the room, US media unanimously reported.
“The record will show that Mr. Trump just stood up and walked out of the courtroom,” Judge Lewis Kaplan said at the time, asking Trump’s legal team to remain seated. It was not immediately clear why Trump left the room or where he was going. The trial could be completed on Friday and handed over to the jury. In drizzle and fog, numerous media representatives and some demonstrators gathered in front of the courthouse in Manhattan in the morning.
Carroll was paid $5 million during his first trial
This is the 80-year-old Carroll’s second trial against Trump. At the end of the first trial in May, a New York jury found it proven that Trump had assaulted Carroll in a luxury New York department store in 1996, sexually assaulted him and later defamed him. The jury then awarded the writer a compensation of five million dollars (approximately 4.65 million euros).
The judge agreed with the plaintiff at the start of the trial
Because she also deemed Trump’s subsequent comments to be defamatory, Carroll then sued again. Even before the start of the second trial, Judge Kaplan agreed with her and ruled that further comments by Trump were defamatory. The jury now only has to decide on the amount of damages that the ex-president must pay to the woman. Carroll is asking for more than $10 million.
Judge threatened Trump with deportation
Trump had already appeared in person several times during the second trial – unlike the first, where he was completely absent – and attracted attention through numerous comments. That is why the judge had already threatened him with exclusion. The 77-year-old is considered the Republicans’ most promising candidate in the presidential elections in November. However, he is currently also dealing with the courts in various cases. Trump often uses the court data as a kind of campaign appearance.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
