According to Mediaite, in a New York courtroom on Monday morning, former President Donald Trump’s lengthy and digressive responses on the witness stand sparked repeated disputes between his legal team and Judge Arthur Engoron.
During Trump’s initial appearance before a mid-morning recess, he delved into extended monologues that left Engoron visibly frustrated. Engoron intervened, urging Trump’s attorneys to rein in their client’s responses, cautioning that he would take action if necessary.
A tense exchange occurred when one of Trump’s legal representatives, Alina Habba, attempted to assert that the judge was present to listen to Trump’s narrative. Engoron swiftly dismissed this assertion, emphasizing that Trump’s primary role was to provide pertinent answers to the questions posed.
“You can attack me, you can do whatever you want. But answer the question,” declared Engoron at one point before warning the former president’s lawyers to “control him” because “if you can’t, I will.”
Following the recess, Trump continued to deliver tangential speeches, including one praising the value of his golf club in Aberdeen, Scotland. Engoron ultimately allowed Trump to continue with his lengthy and unresponsive answers, provided the prosecution did not object to this approach.
In response to Engoron’s characterization of Trump’s testimony as rambling, another member of Trump’s legal team, Chris Kise, commended Trump’s remarks, labeling them as “brilliant.” According to CNN’s Kara Scannell, Kise consistently maintained this stance when addressing Engoron’s criticisms.
The strained dynamic between the judge and the defendant showcased in the courtroom on Monday follows months of confrontations between Trump and Engoron, along with the judge’s earlier ruling holding Trump liable for inflating his company’s assets.
