Trump Attorney Calls For Judge To Release Information
Alina Habba, the attorney for former President Donald Trump, called upon Judge Lewis Kaplan to release any information regarding what she described as a possible conflict of interest. Habba’s plea occurred after it was revealed that Kaplan worked with the lead attorney for author E. Jean Carroll, who successfully sued the former president.
The attorney made the comments after a jury awarded Carroll more than $83 million after she alleged she was defamed by the former president.
In particular, Habba expressed concern over the working relationship between Judge Kaplan and Roberta Kaplan, who represented Carroll. The two are not related.
However, the two worked together at a large law firm in New York in the early 1990s. Recent press reports indicate that the judge may have acted as a mentor for the attorney.
“If Your Honor truly worked with Ms. Kaplan in any capacity — especially if there was a mentor/mentee relationship — that fact should have been disclosed before any case involving these parties was permitted to proceed forward,” Habba wrote in a letter to the judge.
Trump’s counsel called the allegations “particularly concerning” and also cited reports that Judge Kaplan co-officiated the attorney’s wedding.
Habba requested information from the judge, writing that without more information her team was “unable to flesh out our position concerning what specific relief should be requested.”
Trump’s attorney previously criticized the judge in the case, including in a press conference after the judgment was announced.
“We were stripped of every defense, every single defense before we walked in there, and I am proud to stand with President Trump because he showed up, he stood up, he took the stand and he faced this judge,” she said.
Habba also alleged that two of her witnesses were barred from testimony.
She called the case an example of “witch hunts” against the former president and blamed the result on a “New York jury.” Habba also said that she and the former president will appeal the decision, which was the second from Carroll decided against Trump.
Judge Kaplan had previously threatened Habba with jail time after interruptions in court.
🚨 BREAKING: Judge Threatens to LOCK UP Trump Lawyer Alina Habba
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 26, 2024
