A federal judge threatened to kick Donald Trump out of court Wednesday after the former president made repeated comments within earshot of the jury hearing a civil defamation trial against him.

Trump muttered that the case is a “witch hunt,” among other similar comments, according to a lawyer for the writer E. Jean Carroll, who is suing Trump over derogatory comments he made about her while he was president.

The episode prompted a stern rebuke from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who repeatedly tussled with Trump and his lawyers during a testy courtroom session Wednesday morning.

“Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me,” the judge said.

  • RubberDuck@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    There is always jury instructions, which can damage Trump wayyy more.

    Also, if a jury knows he is guilty, have seen the footage of him immediately doing it again as he leaves the first trial, and then you see him making light of the victim and the trial… I would expect them to be pissed off at the defendant even more.