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Donald Trump has stormed out of a Manhattan federal courtroom just minutes after the lawyer representing author Elizabeth Jean Caroll started delivering her closing statement.
The 45th President is appearing in court after a jury found the 77-year-old liable last year for sexually abusing the author in a New York department store in the 1990s.
It also found Trump defamed Caroll after she wrote about the incident.
The latest court appearance is focusing on what damages Trump will have to pay for defaming the 80-year-old.
Donald Trump was recently spotted in New York City
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Caroll is seeking at least $10million in compensatory damages and an unspecified amount in punitive damages.
The jury could reach a verdict as early as today.
District Judge Lewis Kaplan confirmed Trump left the courtroom during the start of the closing statements.
He said: “The record will reflect that Mr Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom.”
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EJ Caroll spotted in New York City ahead of her courtroom appearance
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Trump is under no obligation to attend the civil trial but would have to if it were a criminal case.
The 45th President’s defence counsel were requested to remain seated.
However, Trump cancelled a trip to Arizona for a Republican Party event to attend proceedings.
Caroll’s lawyer appeared to spark Trump’s outburst after telling jurors the former President is a liar who thinks the “rules don’t apply to him”.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba was involved in a spat with the judge at the Manhattan courtroom
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She added: “This case is also about punishing Donald Trump for what he has done and what he continues to do.
“This case is about getting him to stop once and for all.”
The courtroom was already tetchy after Judge Kaplan threatened to throw Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba out, adding: “You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup.”
Judge Kaplan also warned Trump he would throw the real estate mogul out of the courtroom last week after the former President was accused by Caroll’s lawyers of loudly complaining about her while she testified.
E. Jean Carroll arrives for her civil defamation trial against former President Donald Trump at Manhattan Federal Court
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Trump’s side has claimed Caroll’s life improved from the publicity following the alleged incident.
Responding to the defence, Caroll’s lawyer said: “The defence in this case actually has the nerve to suggest that Ms Carroll should thank Donald Trump for defaming her because she’s more famous now than she was before.”
She added: “But being famous is different from being infamous, and being known as a whack job is different from being known as a trusted advice columnist.”
Trump, who is also facing four criminal cases ahead of election day, claimed his previous comments about Caroll came because she “said something I considered a false accusation”.
Donald Trump is the favourite to win the Republican nominationREUTERSHe added: “I just wanted to defend myself, my family and frankly, the presidency.”
As the property-tycoon-turned-politician left the New York courtroom yesterday, he shook his head and repeatedly said: “This is not America. This is not America. This is not America.”
Trump’s court appearance comes just days after he won his second Republican Primary race in New Hampshire.
The 77-year-old is hoping to become just the second Commander-in-Chief to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House when Americans go to the polls on November 5.
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