On Wednesday, following a contentious day in court during which the former president was summoned to testify in his $250 million fraud case and fined $10,000 for violating a gag order, Donald Trump rushed out of a Manhattan courtroom.
The sudden withdrawal of Trump seemed to astonish even his legal representatives and Secret Service personnel, as they hastily pursued him. Following the conclusion of the court day and subsequent to the conclusion of his former attorney, Michael Cohen’s contentious testimony, he re-entered the courtroom.
The monetary penalty was imposed by Judge Arthur Engoron subsequent to Trump’s summons to testify under oath in the afternoon regarding the identity of the individual he had previously described as “very partisan” while seated adjacent to the judge (as reported to reporters earlier in the day).
Trump claimed he was alluding to Cohen, whom he has previously characterized as a rodent, a liar, and a criminal.
When the judge inquired whether Trump had previously labeled his law scribe as “partisan,” Trump responded, “Perhaps unjustly.”
“I believe she has a strong bias against us.” “We believe that to be clear,” Trump further stated.
However, Trump maintained that he was alluding to Cohen when he earlier told reporters that Engoron is “a highly partisan judge accompanied by an even more partisan individual sitting beside him.”
Next to him is Engoron’s law clerk, who has been the subject of criticism from Trump’s team. This was evident earlier on Wednesday when Alina Habba, a Trump attorney, requested that there be no eye-rolling or whispering from the bench while she questioned Cohen.
Engoron queried whether Trump routinely utilized Cohen’s complete name. “No,” replied Trump. According to Trump attorney Chris Kise, Trump would frequently refer to him with “worse” monikers.
Trump’s scant testimony, according to Engoron, was “not credible.” Trump was penalized for disobeying the gag order that was issued by him earlier this month, in response to the former president’s social media slander of his law clerk.
About forty-five minutes later, Trump stormed out of the courtroom with an angry expression and a red face, after the judge denied a motion from his attorneys regarding a distinct legal matter. Cliff Robert, an attorney for Trump, used Cohen’s testimony that Trump never specifically instructed him to inflate his financial statements to petition the judge for a directed verdict dismissing the attorney general’s allegations regarding the statements. In response, Engoron declined this request.
His counsel appeared to be taken aback by his sudden departure, which elicited gasps from the entire courtroom.
“The witness just admitted that our side prevailed at trial; therefore, the judge should immediately dismiss this case.” “I appreciate it,” Trump expressed to reporters as he departed.
Cohen testified later, in response to AG’s office’s inquiries, that Trump did not expressly instruct him to inflate the numbers and compared him to a “mob boss” who commands subtly.
As Cohen concluded his tumultuous two-day testimony, Robert once more requested a directed verdict from the judge, which he categorically rejected.
The judge stated, “This case is replete with credible evidence.” The judge has previously determined that Trump committed “persistent fraud” with his financial statements. “There is enough evidence in this case to fill this courtroom,” he concluded.
“The judge rejected their motion to dismiss the case unequivocally,” Cohen told reporters as he exited the courtroom. “They intended to file a motion to dismiss the case.” “Are you aware as to why? “Because he will face ultimate accountability.”
Cohen, who previously admitted to lying under oath in court and to Congress while on the witness stand, is “not the main witness” in the case, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. She further stated that “mountains of evidence have corroborated his testimony.”
Previously, Trump’s attorneys had petitioned the judge to reevaluate the fine, reiterating that Cohen was the “partisan” individual to whom Trump referred.
The judge rejected Kise’s claim that Trump had been preoccupied with Cohen’s testimony, observing that their cross-examination of the former Trump attorney had centered on his contradictory past statements and not his political leanings.
“The focal point was he’s dishonest, not that he’s some sort of partisan Democrat,” Engoron commented.
“The decision remains,” he informed Trump, adding, “You have been fined $10,000. Should you repeat the action, it will inevitably worsen.”
Trump has been penalized by Engoron twice for his infringement of the prohibition order.
On the second day of the trial, Engoron issued the order in response to a post by Trump on Truth Social that featured an Instagram post from another user, which depicted the law clerk attending an event where she collaborated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Trump made a deceptive implication in his post that she was involved in a personal relationship with Schumer. During a trial break, he then brought this to the attention of reporters.
“Did you see the recent press regarding Schumer and the principal clerk? “That is abhorrent,” stated Trump.
The office of Senator Schumer described the post as “ridiculous, absurd, and false.”
The judge ordered Trump to remove the “derogatory” and “false” post, which Trump claimed could incite violence and threats.
Engoron stated, “Consider this a gag order for all parties regarding posting or publicly speaking about any member of my staff.”
“I will not tolerate personal attacks against members of my court staff; such conduct is unacceptable and inappropriate,” he continued.
The judge stated he discovered the offensive post had remained on Trump’s campaign website for seventeen days last week. Kise informed the magistrate that the posting was “completely unintentional” and spontaneous.
The judge imposed a monetary fine of $5,000 on Trump and issued the following warning in a written decision: “Further transgressions, whether deliberate or accidental, will result in significantly more severe penalties for the offender, including but not limited to imprisonment, contempt of court proceedings, and increased financial penalties.”