Donald Trump Abruptly Leaves Courtroom After Outburst

Former President Donald Trump left the courtroom after an unprompted outburst as his civil fraud case in New York City came to a close.

Both sides in the $370 million lawsuit brought against Trump and his family business by New York Attorney General Letitia James presented their closing arguments before Judge Arthur Engoron on Thursday. The former president, however, was blocked by the presiding judge from giving his own closing statements after his legal team missed a series of deadlines.

That didn't stop Trump's attorney, Chris Kise, from asking Engoron for the chance for Trump to speak after the defense concluded their statements, to which the judge asked Trump directly to promise to only comment on the law and facts of the case. According to Lisa Rubin, a legal analyst for MSNBC who reported live from the courtroom Thursday, the former president ignored Engoron's question and began talking "immediately" after Kise asked for permission.

"This was a political witch hunt; we should receive damages for what they have taken our company through. They have no documents—they have nothing!" Trump said, according to Rubin, who posted the comments on X, formerly Twitter.

"I am an innocent man," Trump continued. "I have been politically persecuted...This statute is vicious."

Jonah Bromwich, a reporter with The New York Times who also reported live from inside the courtroom, said Trump directed several attacks directly at James, as well.

Engoron eventually told Kise to "control your client," although that didn't stop the former president from attacking the judge as well, saying, "You can't listen for more than one minute."

Eventually, Engoron cut Trump off from his rant, to which, according to Bromwich, Trump stood up and exited the courtroom. The proceeding has now headed for a lunch break, although it's unclear if Trump will return.

Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign via email for comment.

Trump has maintained throughout his fraud case that he is innocent and denies any wrongdoing, as he has in his plethora of other legal challenges. The New York attorney general says in her lawsuit that the former president inflated his net worth to loaners, insurers and banks in order to obtain more favorable financial benefits.

Engoron has already sided with James on part of the suit—the months-long trial in Manhattan court was to determine the extent of penalties Trump will have to pay.

While addressing reporters ahead of Thursday's proceedings, Trump called the lawsuit a "witch hunt" and complained about Engoron blocking him from speaking during closing arguments.

"It's a very unfair trial. Nobody has seen anything like this," the former president said.

Update 1/11/24, 2:10 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information and background.