During the ongoing E. Jean Carroll trial, it seemed that Joe Tacopina, the attorney representing former President Donald Trump, distanced himself from his client, thereby compromising Trump’s position. Reports suggest that this occurred during a sidebar conversation with Judge Lewis Kaplan.
The focus of concern revolves around Trump’s frustrated remarks directed at assembled reporters. On Thursday, he expressed the need to cut short his visits to Ireland and Scotland in order to return to New York and address what he referred to as the “disgraceful” Carroll and the “highly antagonistic” Judge Kaplan.
In response to a reporter’s question about his attendance at the trial, Trump confirmed his intention to go back, stating, “I have to go back for a woman that made a false accusation about me, and I have a judge who is extremely hostile and I’m going to go back, and I’m going to confront this. But this woman is a disgrace, and it shouldn’t be allowed to happen in our country.” However, Tacopina consistently denied on Thursday that Trump would testify in the case.
Adam Kasfeld, reporting for Law & Crime, provided details of a sidebar conversation between Tacopina and Kaplan , during a pivotal sidebar conference on Thursday, Joe Tacopina, the attorney representing former President Donald Trump, openly acknowledged to Senior U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, “I know you understand what I am dealing with.” This candid remark shed light on the complex and challenging nature of the ongoing trial that had captivated public attention. At the heart of the trial was a civil lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of rape and defamation. Carroll, a renowned “Ask E. Jean” columnist, alleged that Trump had sexually assaulted her inside a dressing room at the prestigious Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s, and then proceeded to deny and lie about the incident.
Tacopina, who concurrently represented the former president in his separate Manhattan criminal case, adamantly reiterated on multiple occasions that Trump would not be testifying in this particular trial. Despite the absence of press and jury members during the sidebar conversation, a courtroom stenographer diligently transcribed the exchanges, ensuring an accurate record of the proceedings.
Preceding Tacopina’s statement, Judge Kaplan made it explicitly clear that he held no suspicions of dishonesty on the part of the attorney. Recognizing the complexities surrounding the case and the challenges faced by Tacopina, Kaplan conveyed a sense of understanding and trust in their professional interactions, as evidenced by his words captured in the transcript.
The days leading up to the trial were marked by Trump’s provocative and controversial posts on social media platforms. These posts, containing insults and contentious remarks concerning the case, did not escape the notice of Judge Kaplan. Tacopina assured the court that he would make a concerted effort to address these public statements made by his client, recognizing the potential impact they could have on the proceedings and the need to maintain a fair and impartial trial environment.
