‘I Would Love It’: Trump Taunts Judge Over Threat to Remove Him From Courtroom
Politico’s Erica Orden reported on a remarkable exchange between former President Donald Trump and Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on Wednesday in a New York courtroom.
“Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited,” Orden quoted Judge Kaplan telling the court, adding, “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial.”
Trump reportedly shot back, “I would love it.” Judge Kaplan replied to Trump’s taunt, saying, “I know you would. I know you would. You just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.” Trump raised eyebrows this week with his decision to attend the trial, where he is not required to appear.
CNN’s Paula Reid mused, “It’s surprising that he’d want to bring so much attention to this case,” but it appears Trump’s desire to spar with the judge is part and parcel of both his legal and electoral strategy.
Trump is currently on trial to determine damages regarding his defamation of E. Jean Carroll, who has accused the former president of raping her decades ago in New York City. Trump has been found liable by a jury for the sexual abuse and for damages for his later statements insulting Carroll.
The exchange was sparked by Carroll’s lawyer complaining that Trump’s comments blasting the court proceedings could be heard by jurors.
NBC reported that Trump could be heard saying things like, “This really is a con job,” despite the judge telling the GOP frontrunner to “keep his voice down.”
Trump had reportedly also slammed his fists on the table in front of him and called the judge a “nasty guy.”
Earlier in the proceedings Judge Kaplan sparred with Trump attorney, Alina Habba after she repeated a request to postpone the trial. “I said sit down!” the judge demanded as Habba continued to speak out of turn.
“I don’t like to be spoken [to] like that … I will not speak to you like that,” Habba reportedly shot back.
“It is denied. Sit down,” the judge insisted, which elicited further grumblings from Trump.
Trump’s counsel later moved to have Judge Kaplan recuse himself over “general hostility” toward Trump, the judge quickly denied the motion.
This is a breaking story and has been updated.
