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A Bombshell Discovery Could Save Trump $83.3 Million in the E. Jean Carroll Case
PJ Media ^ | 01/30/2024 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 01/30/2024 8:40:26 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Last week, a jury awarded E. Jean Carroll a ridiculous $83.3 million in damages for alleged defamation by Donald Trump after she made dubious allegations that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

Trump’s antics in the courtroom have been widely reported, but so have the judge’s rather bizarre orders that essentially hamstrung Trump and his defense, forbidding him to present exculpatory evidence or defend himself.

There may be a reason why Trump wasn’t given the opportunity to adequately defend himself. It appears that Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who presided over the case, may have a major conflict of interest.

The New York Post has learned that Kaplan was once a “mentor” to Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. The two aren’t related, but they worked together in the early 1990s at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison in Midtown.

In a letter filed on Monday, Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, demanded answers:

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. This issue is particularly concerning since Plaintiff’s other lead counsel, Shawn Crowley, served as Your Honor’s law clerk, and we were previously advised that Your Honor co-officiated her wedding.  28 U.S.C. Section 455(a) states that “[a]ny… judge … of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” 

Habba also noted that Canon 3 of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges makes it clear that a judge must "disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including" when the judge served as "a lawyer with whom the judge previously practiced law served."

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: againstthelaw; discovery; ejeancarroll; trump; trumpdefense; trumppersecution
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To: odawg

They did not allow evidence at the trial. The judge also forbade almost all arguments Trump wanted to make in his defense.

This is a sham and this judge is corrupt.


21 posted on 01/30/2024 9:26:46 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI)
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To: BipolarBob

A history of baseless claims, now being capped off with some $83.3 million in damages, none of which can be proven, but exculpatory evidence is being denied by the judge.

That would almost be grounds for reversal on appeal by itself. And removal from the bench and disbarment of Judge Kaplan as well.

Bias almost to the point of violent legal attack. But that is what lawfare is all about.


22 posted on 01/30/2024 9:28:58 AM PST by alloysteel (Most people slog through life without ever knowing the wonders of true insanity.)
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To: ComputerGuy
If it’s not an Exclusive Breaking Bombshell I can’t be bothered.

We park our car in the same garage.

23 posted on 01/30/2024 9:30:09 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: tired&retired

BINGO!


24 posted on 01/30/2024 9:30:50 AM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Not too concerned.

Because, she cannot keep quiet. Give her some money, and she will spend and talk.

At some point, admitting how she participated in fraud regarding some of her charges, claims.


25 posted on 01/30/2024 9:31:42 AM PST by linMcHlp
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To: SeekAndFind

I think he co-officated at the other attorney’s wedding.


26 posted on 01/30/2024 9:31:59 AM PST by nikos1121
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To: SeekAndFind

This Judge didn’t marry age 50 and had no kids. This is another Justice Roberts-type closet homosexual.

He’s also the assclown who let Sam Bankman-Fried off the hook.


27 posted on 01/30/2024 9:32:37 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI)
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To: linMcHlp

She, meaning Caroll. Probably will spill some of the beans.


28 posted on 01/30/2024 9:32:58 AM PST by linMcHlp
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To: BipolarBob

I just heard a clip on her on R Maddow gleefully counting on her fingers all the things she is going to buy - including buying a penthouse for Maddow.

Because all rape victims treat their sexual assault as a means for a luxury shopping spree.


29 posted on 01/30/2024 9:39:47 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: SeekAndFind

You should be able to go to X without logging in and watch the video of Carroll. Rather disgusting! Also, scroll down to the comments and check out Fweedom’s post.

https://twitter.com/SteveKrak/status/1752160799139807536


30 posted on 01/30/2024 9:43:35 AM PST by Road Warrior ‘04 (BOYCOTT Anheuser Busch, the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR & Faux Snooze! Molon Labe! Oathkeeper! )
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To: rlmorel

Caught that on the video on X with Carroll. Looks like you can’t rape the willing!


31 posted on 01/30/2024 9:44:43 AM PST by Road Warrior ‘04 (BOYCOTT Anheuser Busch, the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR & Faux Snooze! Molon Labe! Oathkeeper! )
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To: SeekAndFind

Does this remind anyone else of China’s “Cultural Revolution”? That was all grand until ... the people who got the ball rolling found out that injustice was more blind than Lady Justice.


32 posted on 01/30/2024 9:48:31 AM PST by Honest Nigerian
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To: DesertRhino
This Judge didn't marry age 50 and had no kids. This is another Justice Roberts-type closet homosexual. He's also the assclown who let Sam Bankman-Fried off the hook.

How did Judge Kaplan let Bankman Fried “off the hook?”

1) Judge Kaplan revoked Bankman-Fried's bail and remanded him to Federal prison
2) Bankman -Fried was found guilty of committing 7 felonies in Judge Kaplan’s courtroom
3) Sentencing isn't until March 28, 2024

Again, how did Judge Kaplan let Bankman-Fried “off the hook?”

33 posted on 01/30/2024 9:51:27 AM PST by thegagline (Sic semper tyrannis! Goldwater in 2024)
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To: thegagline

What do these people have in common?
Judge Kaplan
Judge Engoron
Merrick Garland
Judge Beryl Howell
Shenna Bellows (Maine Secretary of State)
Jena Griswold (Colorado Secretary of State)
George Soros
Reid Hoffman (financial support for E Jean Carroll)

Uh, uh.....can I get back to you on this question?../S


34 posted on 01/30/2024 9:53:57 AM PST by Dawgreg
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To: SeekAndFind
but so have the judge’s rather bizarre orders that essentially hamstrung Trump and his defense, forbidding him to present exculpatory evidence or defend himself.

Has anybody found links to these orders? My Google-fu has come up with nothing except for the post-ruling statement by Trump lawyer Alina Habba that was on video here.

35 posted on 01/30/2024 9:58:42 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: SeekAndFind

The problem with the corrupt justice system is there is almost no way to hold the criminal judges and DA’s accountable with prison time, after a fair trial in a state and district they are not politically aligned with of course.


36 posted on 01/30/2024 9:58:51 AM PST by Boomer (The Long Winter is coming...)
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To: Alberta's Child

And I’m guessing that the original, compromised or conflicted judge doesn’t get a nay or yea on which way those changes or reductions go


37 posted on 01/30/2024 10:01:43 AM PST by desertsolitaire ( M)
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To: BipolarBob
Also she has a history of these baseless claims.

I've seen reports of that elsewhere - if true, was Trump's legal team not permitted to have those people on the receiving end of those allegations come in and testify during the initial trial? Or did they not even try that? Seems that would have made for a key defense.

38 posted on 01/30/2024 10:21:27 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: SeekAndFind
Let's recap: It appears the judge in this case, Lewis A. Kaplan, worked with Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, and officiated at her wedding. Carroll’s other lawyer was also a law clerk for Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. That Lewis Kaplan didn’t reveal these conflicts of interest is enough for him to face major consequences, but clearly, he should have recused himself from the case. The judge ought to publicly confirm or deny the association.

Being in the same law firm as an attorney for one side is disqualifying. Having a former law clerk as an attorney isn't, but when combined with the first problem, it just amplifies that problem
39 posted on 01/30/2024 10:28:37 AM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: odawg

And the defense was not allowed to make their case.


40 posted on 01/30/2024 10:46:25 AM PST by pas
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