By Larry Neumeister and Jake Offenhartz | Associated Press
NEW YORK — A jury began deliberations Friday in the defamation trial against former President Donald Trump, deciding whether he owes writer E. Jean Carroll additional millions after a jury last year concluded that he sexually abused her in 1996.
The jury began its work after closing arguments punctuated by Trump’s dramatic exit from the courtroom as one of Carroll’s lawyers spoke.
He later returned as his lawyer defended him over statements he made while president in June 2019, and he remained until deliberations began.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, asked jurors to award $24 million in compensatory damages and much more in punitive damages.
Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, said Trump told the truth when he refuted her claims, and she said Carroll has more fame and is better poised for success because of her accusations against Trump.
Kaplan was only a few minutes into a closing that lasted more than an hour in Manhattan federal court when Trump suddenly rose from his seat at the defense table and walked toward the exit, pausing to scan the packed courtroom as members of the Secret Service leaped up to follow him out.
The unexpected departure prompted Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who is unrelated to Carroll’s attorney, to speak up, briefly interrupting the closing argument to note: “The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom.”
The walkout came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her to stop.
“You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup. Now sit down,” the judge told Habba, who immediately complied.
Trump, who was not required to attend the civil lawsuit proceedings, had appeared agitated all morning, vigorously shaking his head as Carroll’s attorney branded him a liar who had incited a “social media mob” to attack her client.
“This case…
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