New York CNN — Two days after dominating the New Hampshire GOP’s presidential primary, all but assuring himself a third straight nomination and rematch with President Joe Biden, Donald Trump returned to a Manhattan federal courthouse. The former president took the stand for what was ultimately less than five minutes – including multiple admonishments from Judge Lewis Kaplan – as he seeks to avoid a multimillion-dollar jury verdict against him in the civil defamation trial. The trial centers on Trump’s 2019 comments about E. Jean Carroll, the writer who last year won a civil verdict over her claim Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s and then defamed her when she first publicly accused him. Carroll is seeking at least $10 million. Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday morning and the jury of nine could have the case by lunchtime. Here’s what to know from Thursday: Trump (finally and briefly) testifies After days of back and forth teases over whether he would appear, Trump was on the witness stand for mere minutes on Thursday. The defense’s questions were effectively pre-cleared by the judge, as Trump was not allowed to re-litigate the verdict from last year. Trump attorney Alina Habba first asked her client whether he stood by his testimony in a previous deposition denying Carroll’s allegations. “100% yes,” he replied. Habba then asked, “Did you deny the allegation because Ms. Carroll made an accusation.” “That’s exactly right, yes I did.” Trump replied. “She said something that I considered a false accusation – totally false.” Judge Kaplan cut him off, instructing the court to strike everything Trump said after his initial confirmation. “Did you ever instruct anyone to hurt Ms. Carroll in your statements?” Habba asked in her third and final question. Trump responded, “No I just wanted to defend […]
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