āGlaringly obviousā incompetence on display as judge tells jury to ādisregard everything Ms. Habba just saidā
Trump lawyer Alina Habba struggled through her cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll on Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the defamation case against the former president, repeatedly admonished the attorney for running afoul of his court rules and general procedures.
Prior to Carrollās testimony, Habba requested an adjournment so that Trump could attend his mother-in-lawās funeral.
āThe application is denied. I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down,ā Kaplan, a Bill Clinton appointee, told Habba about the motion that he already denied.
Kaplan repeatedly interrupted Habbaās questions, including when she began to read from a document that had not been formally entered into evidence, sending the trial to a recess.
He canāt be found guilty and have it stick. He can blame his defense and ask for a retrial. Later. Almost immediately after the delayed verdict, but you knowā¦ later.
This isnāt about being found guilty though, right? This is about determining damages. He might appeal how much he needs to pay, but heās already been found civilly liable.