New York, NY – Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces more legal troubles as he is accused of intending to disrupt imminent legal proceedings in an upcoming defamation case. The lawyer representing columnist E Jean Carroll, who previously won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sexual abuse, urged the judge to take measures to prevent any chaos during the trial set for next week. Meanwhile, Trump has also been ordered to pay $400,000 in legal fees to the New York Times after his failed lawsuit against the newspaper over its reporting on his tax records.
The lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, expressed concerns about Trump’s potential disruption at the trial, stating in a letter to Judge Lewis A Kaplan, “If Mr. Trump appears at this trial, whether as a witness or otherwise, his recent statements and behavior strongly suggest that he will seek to sow chaos.” Kaplan further recommended that Trump be warned of the consequences of violating court orders that restrict his and his lawyers’ statements during the trial.
In a separate legal matter, a Supreme Court justice in New York has ordered Trump to pay $392,638 in legal fees to the New York Times. The case, in which Trump sued his niece Mary Trump and the newspaper, was dismissed, leading to this ruling.
The upcoming trial in the Carroll case revolves around additional damages for statements made by Trump in 2019 and shortly after the defamation verdict in 2022. Carroll’s lawyer is urging the judge to make Trump admit under oath that he sexually assaulted Carroll and made false statements with the intent to defame her.
Trump has consistently denied the allegations and has accused Carroll of fabricating her account for personal and political reasons. His behavior in a Manhattan court proceeding, where he disregarded a judge’s instructions and made remarks beyond the purview of the case, has raised concerns about his conduct in the upcoming trial.
In summary, former President Donald Trump is facing ongoing legal challenges as a lawyer seeks to prevent potential disruptions in an upcoming defamation trial, and he has been ordered to pay $400,000 in legal fees to the New York Times. The trial centers around additional damages for statements made by Trump about columnist E Jean Carroll, who previously won a $5 million jury award against him for sexual abuse. Trump denies the allegations and accuses Carroll of fabricating her account. The outcome of these cases will determine the legal and financial consequences for the former president.