“Glaringly obvious” incompetence on display as judge tells jury to “disregard everything Ms. Habba just said”
Trump lawyer Alina Habba struggled through her cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll on Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the defamation case against the former president, repeatedly admonished the attorney for running afoul of his court rules and general procedures.
Prior to Carroll’s testimony, Habba requested an adjournment so that Trump could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
“The application is denied. I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down,” Kaplan, a Bill Clinton appointee, told Habba about the motion that he already denied.
Kaplan repeatedly interrupted Habba’s questions, including when she began to read from a document that had not been formally entered into evidence, sending the trial to a recess.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if Republicans try to vote for Trump even as he sits behind bars.
Can presidents pardon themselves to be released from prison?
It’s not clear, but if they can it’s only for federal crimes. No state conviction can be overturned by the president.
Correct, however, federal court supercedes state decisions.
He’d still be effectively, untouchable. The system wasn’t designed to be abused and tested like this unfortunately.
I don’t think so. There’s nothing at the federal level that can override a state level conviction. In Georgia, not even the governor can pardon prisoners, that has to go before a board, and only after 5 years has been served.