Donald Trump Runs Away From New York Trial Again After Judge Calls Him to the Stand and Fines Him $10,000
Donald Trump was called to the stand for the first time during his New York fraud trial. However, this was not to defend himself but to get asked about comments he made outside the courtroom regarding the judge and the person sitting next to him.
The former president once again violated his gag order during an outburst in front of reporters just outside the courtroom. He complained that Judge Arthur Engoron was a "very partisan judge with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside him, perhaps even much more partisan than he is."
This comment to reporters outside the courtroom got the former president summoned to the stand. Judge Engoron asked him who was this "very partisan sitting alongside him?" Trump stated that he was talking about Michael Cohen, but the judge reprimanded the ex-POTUS, saying that he did not believe him and that Trump was not credible. This led the judge to fine the former president $10,000.
"'The idea that that statement would refer to the witness, that doesn't make sense to me," the judge told Trump. "Don't do it again or it will be worse." This would be the second time Trump got fined for breaking the gag order this week after his campaign website did not take down a post attacking a clerk serving Judge Engoron.
According to The Daily Mail, Engoron was concerned for his clerk as Trump has a penchant for directing his followers to violence on his behalf. "I don't want anybody killed," the judge noted, adding that it was "very easy for anyone to know who that person is."
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Donald Trump Storms Out of Courtroom in the Middle of His New York Fraud Trial
Soon after Trump was fined, Michael Cohen continued his testimony, heating things up even more. After some very animated back and forth, Trump's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case, but Engoron shot them down.
According to CNN, Trump attorney Cliff Robert asked Engoron to dismiss the trial because Cohen was a key witness for the New York attorney general. However, Engoron answered, "Denied."
"Absolutely not," said the judge regarding the request to dismiss.
He added, "There's enough evidence in this case to fill the courtroom."
Frustrated that things were not going his way, Trump then stormed off, telling reporters that the case should be dismissed, before flying back to Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Thing Got Heated between Donald Trump Lawyers and Michael Cohen
Before he stormed off, his former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, testified, and this was when the fireworks started, according to CNBC.
Trump attorney Alina Habba cross-examined Cohen. It got tense as the Trump defense team attacked Cohen's credibility. Habba asked the former Trump attorney about his comments on CNN claiming that Trump's net worth was around $10 billion "on a low estimate." Cohen answered that this was what Trump wanted him to say.
Habba blamed Cohen for blaming others and invoked a massive argument between both sides, leading to Trump storming off.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Trump fined $10,000 for violating gag order - ABC News