Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Blasts 'Unhinged' Judge in New York Civil Fraud Trial Video
A summary of the latest developments in the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump and his company, where Trump's lawyer Alina Habba accused the judge and the attorney general of being "unhinged" and "enraged".
Trump's Lawyer Slams 'Unhinged' Judge in Fraud Trial
Former President Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba unleashed a fiery screed against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron on Monday, after Trump took the witness stand in a $250 million civil fraud trial. Habba accused Engoron of being "unhinged" and "enraged" and claimed that he was trying to silence her and her client.
The trial, which began last week, stems from a lawsuit filed by James in 2019, alleging that Trump and his company inflated the value of their assets to secure loans and tax benefits. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the case a "witch hunt" and a "disgrace".
On Monday, Trump testified for about two hours, during which he clashed with Engoron several times. The judge repeatedly admonished Trump for giving long and irrelevant answers, interrupting the questioning, and making political statements. Engoron also warned Trump's lawyers that he would "draw every negative inference that I can" if they could not control their client.
At one point, Engoron shut down Habba for protesting his instruction that Trump stick to answering questions. "Ms. Habba, sit down," the judge said sternly. "I'm not here to hear what you have to say."
During a break in the testimony, Habba spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and vented her frustration with Engoron and James. She said that Engoron had "predetermined" the outcome of the case and was biased against Trump. She also said that Engoron had "yelled" at her and slammed a table in the courtroom.
"I was told to sit down today. I was yelled at and I had a judge who is unhinged slamming a table. I don’t tolerate that in my life. I’m not going to tolerate it here," Habba said. "And you know what? You shouldn’t either. Because not every American citizen gets to have a camera and a microphone, and what I’m seeing is such a demise of the American judicial system and democracy."
Habba also criticized James for speaking to the media before the trial and calling Trump a "liar" and a "bully". She said that James had "taunted" Trump before she even took office and had a political agenda to "make a name for herself".
"Ms. James, you taunted him. Before you came into office, before you saw one record, one statement of financial condition, you taunted him," Habba said. "You said his administration was too male and too pale. Those are her words."
Habba added that James had "picked the wrong person" and that Trump would not back down from the fight. She said that Trump had a right to hire a lawyer who could stand up and say something when they saw something wrong.
"This country is falling apart, and if we don’t stop corruption in courtrooms where attorneys are gagged, where attorneys are not allowed to say what they need to say to protect their clients’ interest, it doesn’t matter what your politics are," Habba said. "I don’t care who you are. You have a right to hire a lawyer who can put objections on the record."
The trial is expected to resume on Tuesday, with Trump continuing his testimony. James has said that she plans to question Trump herself, which could lead to more fireworks in the courtroom.
Conclusion:
The civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump and his company has been marked by heated exchanges and accusations of bias. Trump's lawyer Alina Habba blasted the judge and the attorney general for their conduct and said that they were trying to silence her and her client. Trump testified for two hours on Monday and faced several interruptions and warnings from the judge. The trial will continue on Tuesday, with more potential clashes between Trump and his opponents.