On the concluding day of the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial, former President Donald Trump abruptly stormed out of the courtroom mere minutes into the proceedings, prompting Judge Lewis Kaplan to remark, “The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom,” as reported by The Messenger’s Adam Klasfeld, who was present in the courtroom.
The trial, expected to wrap up with closing arguments from both Trump’s and Carroll’s legal teams, revolves around defamatory comments related to the same incident for which Trump has already been found liable for defamation and sexual abuse in a previous trial. The current proceedings primarily focus on determining damages, with Carroll seeking $10 million.
In a previous trial last spring, a different federal jury in the Southern District of New York found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defaming her when she came forward. The jury unanimously awarded Carroll a $5 million judgment, a decision currently under appeal. Despite this, Kaplan emphasized that it did not deter Trump.
Following Kaplan’s statement, Trump deliberately rose from the defense table and walked out of the courtroom. Senior U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan officially noted Trump’s exit for the record.
“The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom,” Judge Kaplan stated.
The judge then directed Trump’s attorneys and associates, including longtime advisor Boris Epshteyn, to remain seated after Trump’s departure.
Before the trial commenced, Judge Kaplan ruled that the prior verdict resolved all factual disputes, leaving the jury to decide the amount of additional damages to award.
