“Reporter Boldly Challenges Trump After His 49-Minute Rant—You Won’t Believe His Response!”
Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
A cadre of reporters sat through former President Donald Trump’s 49-minute post-court rant — and shouted for him to take questions as he walked away to cheers from his fans.
Trump was in court Friday as an appeal was heard in the case that wound up resulting in Trump being hit with a $5 million verdict, leading to a bombshell $83.3 million judgment for defaming his sexual abuse accuser E. Jean Carroll while he was president.
After the hearing, Trump held a press conference during which he repeated many of the attacks for which he was found liable and assailed his own legal team as they flanked him behind the lectern.
But after nearly an hour, Trump wrapped up and walked off, followed by a glum-looking Alina Habba — who was Trump’s attorney in the bombshell fraud case he lost — and the rest of his team as supporters smattered applause and a reporter shouted after him:
DONALD TRUMP: What they’re doing is they’re hitting us as hard as possible. You know, it’s very interesting. It just brings to light.
The lawyer on the hoax that we’re talking about now having to do with E. Jean Carroll.
She said the way to defeat Trump is go after him civilly, as often as possible, make his life miserable. Sue him all the time. Keep him in court and let him spend a fortune.
That’s the lawyer I have in the E. Jean Carroll Case. And that’s exactly what they’ve done.
The only thing I can say that’s good about it is the public understands. And my poll numbers, I believe, are higher now than they would have been without it.
Because the public understands it’s a hoax. It’s a scam. It’s a political witch hunt. And some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Thank you very much, everybody. Thanks.
(APPLAUSE)
REPORTER: Will you come back and take questions?
Trump faced two trials in the E. Jean Carroll case, the first of which resulted in a $5 million damages award, and which was the subject of Friday’s appeal.
That led to the second trial, at which Trump did testify, but at which the fact of Trump’s liability was already settled — he was not permitted to contest whether he sexually abused Carroll or defamed her.
That trial resulted in the blockbuster $83 million judgment.
