The MeidasTouch Podcast - Trump’s Lawyer Makes PATHETIC EXCUSE to Federal Judge

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

Donald Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina sent a letter to New York Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan stating Trump might not show up to E. Jean Carroll trial because it would be a burden to the Manhattan. E. Jean Carroll’s lawyer responded brilliantly. MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports.  Shop Meidas Merch at: https://store.meidastouch.com Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/meidastouch Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://pod.link/1510240831 Legal AF: https://pod.link/1580828595 The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://pod.link/1595408601 The Influence Continuum: https://pod.link/1603773245 Kremlin File: https://pod.link/1575837599 Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://pod.link/1530639447 The Weekend Show: https://pod.link/1612691018 The Tony Michaels Podcast: https://pod.link/1561049560 American Psyop: https://pod.link/1652143101 Majority 54: https://pod.link/1309354521 Political Beatdown: https://pod.link/1669634407 Lights On with Jessica Denson: https://pod.link/1676844320 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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charge bet mgm operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming ontario i'm ben mysellis from the Midas touch network you know there's an expression that you get the lawyers you deserve. And wow, is that true when it comes to Donald Trump and his lawyers, Joe Takapina and Alina Haba. As trial approaches in E. Jean Carroll's civil rape and defamation case, trial is set to begin on April 25th and Trump's lawyers repeated requests for delay, delay, delay has been denied by federal judge Lewis Kaplan. Trump's lawyers, Takapina and Haba, continue to file incoherent and frivolous letter brief

and motion one after another, and Judge Kaplan just isn't having it anymore. There's a recent letter brief, though, that was just filed by Donald Trump's lawyers, which you know the judge is not going to take too kindly to at all. And in this new letter brief, Donald Trump's lawyers request that if Donald Trump just decides not to show up for trial at all, if he decides, hey, he's too busy, judge, we want you to give the jury an instruction that Donald Trump's basically just doing a favor for Manhattan. And he's a really busy guy and he doesn't want to burden. He'd like to be there, but he doesn't want to burden the city with all of the secret service and all of the attention. So he's going to stay in Mar-a-Lago. And then E. Jean Carroll's lawyer,

Roberta Kaplan, no relation to the judge, Lewis Kaplan, E. Jean Carroll's lawyer writes back, you know, that's interesting because Donald Trump shows up at these UFC matches and these rallies. And no, you know what? This is a serious case. He's being accused of rape. And there have been lots of high profile cases before in Manhattan. And you don't get to act like you're better than everybody else, even if you're a former president. And no, enough with this gaslighting Donald Trump and acting like you're doing the city of New York a favor. Got to read for you these letter briefs.

First, this is the letter brief from Donald Trump's lawyer, Joe Takapina. And the judge requested, and very smartly so, Judge Lewis Kaplan requested a filing by Donald Trump's lawyers and said, is Donald Trump going to show up or not? Because the judge didn't want any surprises. And of course, the judge predicted that Donald Trump would try to turn this into a complete circus. So that's why Donald Trump's lawyers had to even respond. And because Judge Lewis Kaplan asked for those briefs, he was able to expose what Donald Trump's real intentions were here. And Donald Trump really has no intention of showing up. That's clear from this letter. So Joe Takapina writes the following. Your Honor, in light of the court's

order requesting counsel to advise whether their respective clients intend to be present throughout the trial, we think it necessary to bring the following concern to your honor's attention, given the unique status of our client, defendant Donald J. Trump, as a former president, specifically as counsel who appeared with defendant Trump during his recent arraignment in New York Supreme Court in People v. Trump, indictment number 7145-2023. I have personal knowledge of the logistical burdens associated with his appearance in a courtroom, much of which was witnessed during televised broadcast. As a former president, the defendant was always accompanied by approximately a dozen Secret

Service agents. The FDR drive was shut down for a significant amount of time while he traveled to the courthouse. The courthouse itself was frozen while he was present, and the streets within a three-block radius of the courthouse were blocked off while he was there. Defendant Trump's appearance in the Southern District of New York in connection with this matter would result in similar logistical and financial burdens upon New York City, its residents, and the court itself. With respect to the latter, in order for Defendant Trump to appear, his movement would need to be coordinated preliminarily by a Secret Service advance team hours beforehand each day that he

is present so that a tactical plan may be developed. As part of that plan, according to Secret Service, courthouse floors would need to be locked down, elevators shut down, courthouse personnel confined to their offices, and members of the public restricted from the area. Although defendant Trump wishes to appear at trial, yeah, right, although defendant Trump wishes to appear at trial, in order to avoid the burdens outlined above, if he does not do so, we respectfully request that the court issue to the jury the following preliminary instruction, quote, while no litigant is required to appear at a civil trial, the absent of the defendant in this matter by design avoids the logistical burdens that his presence as the former president

would cause the courthouse and New York City. Accordingly, his presence is excused unless and until he is called by either party to testify. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. Signed, Joe Takapina. I mean, look, if the judge wants to instruct the jury while no litigant is required to appear at a civil trial, period, I think I'm fine with that. Just say Donald Trump thinks he's too important to show up for a case where he's being accused of rape. But all of the rest is completely prejudicial, is completely absurd, and should not be read at all.

And look, E. Jean Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, points this out to the judge. This is what she responds. Mr. Trump's motion is frivolous. Mr. Trump will soon stand trial in federal court for sexual assault and defamation. These are extremely serious claims and he has the right to appear at trial and testify under oath in his own defense. In the alternative, he has the right to decline to appear at trial and to accept any associated consequences. Given the gravity of the allegations at issue in this case, one might expect Mr. Trump to appear in person, but he is obviously free to choose

otherwise. Either way, Ms. Carroll has a right to play Donald Trump's deposition at trial under federal rule of civil procedure 32A3, so she has no need for him to testify live. However, the notion that Mr. Trump would not appear as some sort of favor to the city of New York and that the jury should be instructed as much taxes the credulity of the credulous. Some of the most important and high profile cases in our nation's history have been tried in the Southern District of New York. This court and the city it calls home are fully equipped to handle any logistical burdens that may result from Mr. Trump's appearance at a week-long trial.

Indeed, the court has already made clear that it takes those matters seriously. If Mr. Trump decides not to appear at his own trial for sexual assault and defamation, the jury may draw whatever inference it chooses, and Mr. Trump has no right to a judicial endorsement of his flimsy excuse. Mr. Trump's position is especially difficult to credit in light of his own recent activity. Over the past few weeks, Mr. Trump attended the Ultimate Fighting Championship 287 event, spoke at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, and appeared for deposition in the New York Attorney General's civil case against Mr. Trump, his adult children, and the Trump Organization. On Monday, he announced that he has scheduled a New Hampshire campaign event for next Thursday, April 27th.

In other words, in the middle of and campaign functions, then surely he could surmount the logistics of attending his own federal trial, respectfully submitted Roberta A. Kaplan. Folks, that's what we call a legal takedown. Donald Trump's lawyers are just so completely and utterly outmatched by E. Jean Carroll's incredible lawyers like Roberta Kaplan. One other thing that you can glean from this letter by Roberta Kaplan, though, they can't wait to show the deposition of Donald Trump. And because Donald Trump is a party to the action, his full deposition can be played for any purpose at all during trial. You could play it during opening. You can just play it

in lieu of witness testimony. In addition to witness testimony, you can go to the jury. Hey, we want to play for you what Donald Trump said at his deposition. And frankly, that may be one of the first things that Roberta Kaplan does in the case. Let's play this deposition because you may recall from our prior reporting here on the Midas Touch Network, Donald Trump said things at his deposition like, oh, well, the reason that he would never want to... This is what he said. This is how disgusting of a person he is. He goes, the reason he would never rape E. Jean Carroll is because she was not his type. And then Roberta Kaplan showed Donald Trump a photo of E. Jean Carroll, and Donald Trump thought it was Marla Maples.

He thought it was his ex-wife, who he said was his type. So there's that portion of the deposition that we're aware about. There's also a portion of the deposition we're aware about where Roberta Kaplan asked Donald Trump about all of the things that he claims to be hoaxes. And she goes to Donald Trump, so you believe E. Jean Carroll is a hoax, correct? Donald Trump goes, yeah. And then she goes, so you believe the 2020 election is a hoax? And he goes, yeah, that's a hoax. You believe climate change is a hoax? He goes, yeah, that's a hoax. You believe that Russia's conduct in unlawfully invading Ukraine is a hoax? And Donald Trump's like, it's all a hoax. Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, hoax, hoax, hoax, hoax,

hoax. So she made it very clear that when Donald Trump says things are a hoax, he just doesn't like them. And they are true. So those are critical portions of Donald Trump's deposition. And there are other portions, of course, that we haven't seen, but she's going to play those portions. It's going to be very, very powerful. And here's one thing I'm pretty sure of. While I thought that the Dominion and Fox lawsuit was going to settle, even though I didn't want it to settle, I was pretty confident it was going to settle based on the dynamics there, this case ain't settling, folks. This case is going to go to trial. I think there's a very small, minuscule, but essentially zero chance that this case settles. E. Jean Carroll wants

her day in court. Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, is an incredible litigator. Donald Trump does not even have the resources to fund the type of settlement that's even needed in this case. And this case is definitely about justice. And I think E. Jean Carroll has done heroic, heroic things in standing up to Donald Trump. And so has her lawyers and that whole law firm that Roberta Kaplan runs. So just wanted to say that. Thank you for watching. Hit subscribe. We're on our way to 1.5 million subscribers. Thanks to your incredible support. So please hit subscribe. Also check us out at patreon.com slash Midas Touch. If you become a member there, it really helps the growth of this platform. And finally, wherever you get your audio podcast, search Midas Touch podcast, subscribe.

It's free. So whatever device you use to listen to podcasts, search Midas Touch podcast, subscribe free, leave a five-star review. I'm Ben Micellus. Have a great day. Lock him up. Indictment season is upon us. Celebrate with the new indictment season t-shirt and v-neck exclusively at store.midastouch.com.