Trump lawyer Habba calls reports he's falling asleep in court 'unlikely'
Alina Habba, an attorney and spokesperson for former President Trump, said in a Tuesday interview that it was “unlikely” that Trump fell asleep in the courtroom during the first two days of jury selection for his hush money case in Manhattan, despite reports indicating otherwise.
“If anything, he's probably brutally bored,” Habba told Fox News’s Martha MacCallum when asked about the reports. “I mean, it's painful. They make him sit there through jury selection. The first day was procedural.”
“But no, you know, I've heard that report. It's unlikely,” Habba continued. “I know him. I sat through trial after trial with him. That never happens. So President Trump is incredibly focused.”
Trump’s first of four criminal trials began Monday, with jury selection in a Manhattan courtroom.
Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to reimbursements to his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, for paying adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 ahead of the 2016 election. The payment was to get her to stay quiet about an alleged affair Trump had with her in 2006.
Trump is required to be present at the trial, including for jury selection, which can be a tedious process. On Monday, Trump at times closed his eyes, appearing to nod off. He also would lean back in his chair motionless with his arms crossed for considerable periods, but opinions differed among members of the press corps about whether the former president was actually asleep.
On Tuesday, Trump at one point had his eyes closed for a few minutes.
Democrats in response have pounced on the former president, who has attacked his 2024 presidential opponent, President Biden, for his age and has even referred to him by the nickname “Sleepy Joe.”
Kate Bedingfield, former communications director under President Biden, wrote in response to the reporting, “Sleepy Don.”
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Filter
-
Tough questions as Supreme Court debates Trump's immunity claim
Justices push lawyers for both sides on whether a president can be criminally prosecuted for acts while in office.BBC News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
At Supreme Court, Trump lawyer backs away from absolute immunity argument
D. John Sauer conceded there are allegations in the indictment that do not involve official acts, meaning they would not be subject to any presidential immunity.NBC News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
What Trump’s lawyer conceded at the Supreme Court: From the Politics Desk
In today’s edition, reporters Lawrence Hurley and Ryan J. Reilly break down what happened in the Supreme Court arguments over Trump's claim of absolute immunityNBC News - Top stories -
What Trump’s lawyer conceded at the Supreme Court: From the Politics Desk
In today’s edition, reporters Lawrence Hurley and Ryan J. Reilly break down what happened in the Supreme Court arguments over Trump's claim of absolute immunityNBC News - Politics -
At Supreme Court, Trump lawyer backs away from absolute immunity argument
D. John Sauer conceded there are allegations in the indictment that do not involve official acts, meaning they would not be subject to any presidential immunity.NBC News - Politics - Donald Trump -
David Pecker Fires Back After Trump’s Lawyer Implies He Was Untruthful
The confrontational strategy adopted by the lawyer, Emil Bove, did not seem to work with David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer.The New York Times - Top stories - Donald Trump -
'We will call him President Trump': Defense lawyers vacillate between honorifics
Former President Donald Trump has been called a lot of names in the first six days of his New York hush-money trial.NBC News - Top stories -
'We will call him President Trump': Defense lawyers vacillate between honorifics
Former President Donald Trump has been called a lot of names in the first six days of his New York hush-money trial.NBC News - Politics -
Kagan asks Trump lawyer if a president calling for a coup is an official act
Justice Elena Kagan questioned an attorney for former President Trump about whether a president calling for a coup to remain in power would be considered an official act, and therefore should be immune from prosecution.NBC News - Politics - Donald Trump -
Supreme Court hears Trump presidential immunity claim | Special Report
The Supreme Court has concluded arguments over Donald Trump's claim he is entitled to broad immunity from federal prosecution for allegedly official acts while he was in the White House. Nancy Cordes anchored CBS News' special report on the ...CBS News - Top stories - Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
Riot police drag away protesters at University of Texas as Gaza tensions flare
State troopers in riot gear moved on Monday afternoon to clear out students attempting to occupy a quad at the University of Texas at Austin. Dozens of protesters were arrested on site, escalating tensions that began on Wednesday when the ...The Hill - Politics -
Jill Stein accuses police of assaulting her at protest
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein on Sunday alleged police assaulted her and other demonstrators shortly before being arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. “Basically, the police ...The Hill - Politics -
US finds Israeli military units violated human rights
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US finds Israeli military units violated human rights The State Department has determined that at least five Israeli ...The Hill - Politics - Israel -
Evening Report — Protests continue to spread on college campuses
A quick recap of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow {beacon} Evening Report © AP Pro-Palestinian protests escalate on college campuses Hundreds of students have been arrested on college campuses across the country as ...The Hill - Politics -
FCC fines wireless carriers
Presented by Microsoft — {beacon} Technology Technology PRESENTED BY The Big Story FCC fines major mobile carriers $200M The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a fine totaling $200 million to the nation’s four largest mobile ...The Hill - Politics