Trump lashes out at judge in closing arguments of civil fraud trial – By Erica Orden (Politico) / Jan 11, 2024
“This is a fraud on me,” Trump told the judge, who responded by urging Trump’s lawyer to “control your client.”
NEW YORK — Donald Trump accused the judge in his civil fraud trial of having his “own agenda,” berating the judge to his face in brief courtroom remarks that defied the judge’s attempts to control Trump’s rhetoric.
For about five minutes on Thursday, Trump spoke while seated at the defense table as Justice Arthur Engoron, brow furrowed, watched him from the bench.
In the days preceding, Trump lawyer Chris Kise had requested permission from Engoron for Trump to participate in the case’s closing arguments — an unusual request for a defendant represented by counsel. Engoron said he would allow Trump to speak only if the former president agreed to abide by a long list of conditions, including limiting his remarks to the issues in the case and refraining from giving a “campaign speech.”
After Kise failed to accept the conditions, Engoron wrote in an email Wednesday that he assumed Trump wouldn’t speak during the presentation.
