Donald Trump abruptly left a Manhattan courtroom after tensions escalated between the former President and Judge Arthur Engoron.
The scene erupted after Engoron announced his decision to fine Trump for violations of the court’s gag order against him, as well as deeming him “not credible.”
“Unbelievable,” Trump said just before storming out of the room.
Donald Trump abruptly leaves the courtroom after Judge Engoron denies his defense’s request for a directed verdict:
“The witness just admitted that we won the trial. And the judge should end this trial immediately.” pic.twitter.com/31tyEyV7d3
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) October 25, 2023
“The witness just admitted that we won the trial, and the judge should end this trial immediately,” Trump stated once outside.
“This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who’s very partisan sitting alongside of him,” Trump stated outside the room during a break. “Even much more partisan than he is.”
Following Trump’s comments, the judge pressed him once back inside, saying, “President Trump, did you violate the gag order just now?”
“Did you say, ‘This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside of him’?” Engoron questioned.
Trump confirmed the statement, but stated that he was only referencing Michael Cohen’s testimony.
“You sure you didn’t mean the person on the other side, my principal law clerk?” the judge asked.
“Yes,” Trump said, “I’m sure.”
Trump then said that Greenfield was, “maybe unfair,” and added, “I think she’s very biased against us.”
“I find the witness is not credible,” Engoron said, and fined the 45th president for the violation.
Later on, when Trump’s team motioned for a directed verdict only to be strongly denied by Engoron, Trump turned and left.
“In fact, former President Trump just stormed out of the courtroom. To everyone’s surprise, some gasps and the court has Secret Service agents chasing him. The motorcade lining up for him right now after taking the stand,” correspondent Dasha Burns recalled.
“Afterwards, the cross-examination of Michael Cohen continued. At one point, Trump’s attorney asked the judge for a direct verdict because, quote, ‘The state’s key witness has just testified the defendant did not inflate his numbers,’ essentially asking the judge to finish the case and the trial right there. The judge immediately denied that motion, and that is when the former president stood up and angrily stormed out of the courtroom,” Burns said.
“He said, ‘I lied,’ numerous times,” Trump exclaimed in reference to Cohen’s testimony. “And then he said, as per the best television show you’ll ever imagine, he said, me, ‘I did not ask him to manipulate figures.’’”
“That should be the end of the case,” he pressed.
