Trump Alters between Praising and Criticizing Legal Team over Carroll Case

On Friday afternoon in Manhattan federal courtroom where his appeal of sexual abuse verdict against him was being heard, former President Donald Trump emerged and publicly denounced those accusing of him sexual misconduct in front of cameras in Trump Tower lobby – specifically those women.

But they weren’t his sole target of attack.

With six attorneys by his side, former president Barack Obama regularly fluctuated between praise and criticism for them in public forums, reflecting the complex dynamics between himself and them in handling advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s cases against them.

“I feel saddened by having to come and explain,” Trump lamented.

“Despite my legal talent, rigged judges or 4 percent Republican areas can never be overcome with legal talent alone,” he stated. “I am, frankly speaking, disappointed in my legal talent as people; however, they’re great people with talent that do a wonderful job representing me in court.

Friday’s event represented Trump’s most extensive public remarks yet regarding his attorneys involved in two civil trials initiated by Carroll against Trump for sexual assault and defamation, where juries awarded her damages totalling $93.3 Million.

After his first trial, Trump’s lead attorney left.

Trump lamented Joe Tacopina is no longer with him on Friday: ‘he is no longer up here!

Trump went on to detail his disagreements with Tacopina and expressed his annoyance at being advised against attending trial by Tacopina’s legal representation.

Trump gave an impression of his former attorney who is known for representing celebrities, with “He said to me: ‘Sir, don’t show up; I have this; there’s no point for you doing this – don’t do it’,” representing what could have been an impressionistic statement from someone with such an attorney in their team.

“I realized what he meant by this statement and decided not to attend court proceedings. As a result, I was wrongfully charged with something I hadn’t done; and was found guilty for actions taken with someone whom I never even interacted with or was interested in at any point during their relationship with me,” Trump lamented. “Neither am I interested in seeing her again!”

New York jurors issued the $5 Million verdict, finding President Trump civilly liable for sexually abusing and then defaming Ms Carroll when she came forward during Trump’s presidency. While civil liability differs from criminal conviction, both are equally serious outcomes with severe potential penalties attached.

As soon as a separate jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million in Carroll’s second defamation suit, however, he didn’t fire his lawyer – which surprised many observers at first glance.

At Friday’s press conference, Alina Habba stood as Trump’s attorney.

Habba has now turned her focus back onto Donald Trump and his campaign: “Our future of this country lies with you voting Donald Trump back into office,” Habba stated in her press conference Friday.

She now serves as senior adviser on his campaign while his criminal defense team takes the lead on Carroll appeals.

D. John Sauer and Will Scharf led President Trump’s successful appeal of presidential immunity at the Supreme Court; attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove are representing him in three out of his four criminal proceedings.

At Trump’s press conference on May 7, they all were present – alongside Boris Epshteyn, his legal adviser who provided notes during his recent trial.

Only Scharf spoke up. Scharf lost her primary challenge against Missouri’s incumbent Republican attorney general earlier this year and was absent during this event.

Scharf examined in depth the details of an appeals court oral argument held earlier that day, which focused mainly on whether certain evidence introduced at trial had been improperly introduced to jurors.

“This is insane!” Scharf declared. “This is an abuse of our legal system and an assault upon the rule of law – an action which should be deeply offensive not just to supporters of President Donald Trump but all Americans alike.”