Former President Donald Trump’s attorney tore into the “unhinged” judge in the $250 million civil fraud case unfolding in New York, unloading on the sham trial in a fiery message outside of the courtroom.
Alina Habba left no room for doubt about the motive behind New York Attorney General Letitia James. and the “corruption” in the courtroom as she torched Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron for his testy exchange with her earlier when he told her to “sit down” during Trump’s testimony.
The former president said into the microphone from the witness stand on Monday, “This is a very unfair trial. Very, very, and I hope the public is watching.” His comment came after Engoron blew up over his “editorializing” answers to questions about his finances and the Trump “brand”.
“Mr. [Chris] Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally,” Engoron barked at Trump’s attorney, demanding the former president answer questions with “yes” or “no.”
But after the attorneys explained why the lengthy responses were necessary, and that the judge should “want to hear” what Trump had to say, Engoron snapped.
“I’m not here to hear what he has to say!” he yelled. “Sit down, Mr. Kise! Sit down, Ms. Habba!”
During the lunch break, Habba eviscerated the judge “who has already predetermined” before walking into the courtroom that he was not there to listen to Trump.
FIRE!! 👠🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/vr81yboTpQ
— thedailybs w/ Snerdley (@thedailybs_Bo) November 7, 2023
“Then why exactly am I being paid as an attorney, and why exactly are taxpayer dollars being used in this courtroom? The answer is very clear. Because Ms. [Letitia] James wants to stand right here like she did this morning and call my client a liar. Call the company fraudulent. And make a name for herself,” Habba asserted.
“She said this morning that the numbers don’t lie,” she went on, referring to James speaking to reporters ahead of Monday’s proceedings, calling the former president a “bully” and saying that “before he takes the stand, I am certain that he will engage in name-calling and taunts and race-baiting and call this a witch hunt.”
“Well, Miss James, I have a message for you,” Habba declared. “The numbers didn’t lie when you ran for governor, and that’s why you dropped out. And the numbers don’t lie when President Trump runs for office in 2024. Those numbers are loud and clear.”
“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 client’s interest, it doesn’t matter what your politics are,” Habba warned. “I don’t care who you are. You have a right to hire a lawyer who can put objections on the record. You have a right to hire a lawyer who can stand up and say something when they see something wrong.”
Habba continued her blistering comments, making it clear show would not “tolerate” being disrespected by the judge.
“But I was told to sit down today, I was yelled at, and I’ve had a judge who was unhinged slamming a table. Let me be very clear, I don’t tolerate that in my life, I’m not going to tolerate it here. And you know what? You shouldn’t either, because not every American citizen gets a camera and a microphone. And what I’m seeing is such a demise of American judicial system and democracy,” Trump’s lawyer, a former fashion executive said.
And to be very clear, Habba had more fire to throw at James.
“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.”
“When you let my client speak the truth and the judge can tell me to sit down and he can try and shorten my client’s testimony,” she added, “but it is loud and clear they’ve got nothing. They’ve got nothing but their politics.”
