After escorting the woman downstairs to the first floor, officers cuffed her as she yelled “Help me!” “Save me!” for several minutes, according to a courthouse source.
The unnamed woman — who was a court employee, according to a state courts spokesman — was then loaded into the back of a cop car.
Trump apparently was unaware of the fracas. Asked shortly before leaving the courthouse if he knew the court employee, Trump said, “Who got arrested? We didn’t know anything about it.
“You know who should be arrested? The attorney general for what she’s doing.”
Trump left court for the day around 3:30 p.m. — and said he "probably" won't be back Thursday because of an upcoming golf tournament at his Miami, Fla., golf club.
The Trump Golf Doral is hosting the LIV Golf Team Championship Oct. 20-22.
Asked if he knew the court employee who was arrested after she tried to approach him at the defense table earlier this afternoon, Trump said, “Who got arrested? We didn’t know anything about it.
Former President Donald Trump speaking to the media after leaving New York State Supreme Court for the day. Photo by ALEX KENT/AFP via Getty Images
"You know who should be arrested? The attorney general for what she’s doing.”
A woman who tried to approach Donald Trump sitting at a defense table during his civil fraud trial was escorted out of the courtroom by a group of court officers — and later charged with contempt of court, officials said.
The woman -- wearing a black dress and blazer -- tried to approach the defense table where Trump and his lawyers were sitting before a court officer asked her to be seated in the gallery.
Around 11:45 a.m., an officer asked to speak with her outside. She entered the media-packed hallway speaking loudly, saying she was scared, as a group of officers surrounded her, asking her to lower her voice.
After escorting the woman downstairs to the first floor, officers cuffed her as she yelled "Help me!" and "Save me!" for several minutes, according to a courthouse source.
The unnamed woman was then put into the back of a police car, video shows.
A state courts spokesman said the woman was a court employee, and that she had been placed on immediate leave and barred from court facilities pending an investigation.
A woman was escorted out of the courtroom after she tried to approach Trump at the defense table. Steven Hirsch
The woman was charged with contempt of court. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
A state courts spokesman later identified her as a court employee. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Meanwhile, inside the courtroom, testimony continued without interruption while the drama unfolded outside.
Tensions rose inside the courtroom this morning after Trump’s lawyers suggested that real estate appraiser Doug Larson lied on the stand — though the judge appeared skeptical of this claim.
“He perjured himself yesterday, in my opinion,” Trump lawyer Chris Kise said — while the AG’s office accused the former president's legal team of amping up the theatrics for the assembled media.
“This is a performance for the press sitting behind us, and not a real legal issue,” AG lawyer Kevin Wallace said after a court officer escorted Larson out of the room.
Trump's lawyers accused real estate appraiser Doug Larson of perjuring himself in court yesterday. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Trump’s team’s perjury claim stemmed from the question of whether Larson had worked with Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney, a co-defendant in the case, to value Trump’s properties in 2013.
While questioning Larson, Trump attorney Lazaro Fields accused him of testifying on Tuesday that he hadn’t worked with McConney — while producing an email of Larson communicating with McConney at around that time.
“You lied, Mr. Larson, didn’t you?” Fields said, raising his voice.
“I did not. That’s what I recall,” Larson responded.
The perjury claims come from Larson answering that he hadn't worked with Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney to value Trump's properties in 2013. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Kise then stood up and interjected that Larson should be advised of his Fifth Amendment right against incriminating himself — drawing audible groans from the lawyers at the AG’s table.
"This is witness intimidation!" AG counsel Colleen Kelly Faherty shouted.
Both sides continued having a heated discussion after Larson left the room. Kise said that Larson should take a break from testimony to speak with his lawyer about his potential perjury risk.
“Unlike the government, I take those rights seriously,” hissed Kise — again drawing groans from the AG’s lawyers.
Larson denied that he lied and said his answer was what he recalled. REUTERS
After a few minutes, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron ordered Larson to retake the stand — suggesting that “I don’t see an inconsistency” in his testimony.
"My role here is to get witnesses to testify,” Engoron said. “If he’s perjuring himself, he’s perjuring himself. If not, he has nothing to worry about.”
The son of former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was called to the witness stand by AG James after Larson's testimony wrapped.
Jack Weisselberg, a director at real estate investment firm Ladder Capital, was the second witness on Wednesday who began testifying as Trump looked on.
His dad testified last week for two days when he attempted to downplay the significance of Trump tripling the value of his Manhattan Trump Tower penthouse triplex.
Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg in court for Trump's fraud trial on October 10, 2023. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
The elder Weisselberg served jail time and was released early after he pleaded guilty for cheating on his taxes while he was employed at the real estate empire.
His testimony at a criminal trial helped the Manhattan District Attorney's Office snag a guilty verdict in the tax fraud case against Trump Org.
Trump, who had largely kept his cool so far inside the courtroom, made several audible sounds of frustration during appraiser Doug Larson’s testimony this morning — drawing an objection from the attorney general's office.
The former president could be heard muttering a few times to his attorneys, shaking his head and gesturing as Larson — who said yesterday that it was “inaccurate and inappropriate” for the Trump Organization to base its property valuations on his work — continued testifying for a second day.
"Objection. Can the defendant please stop commenting during the witness' testimony,” said AG’s counsel Kevin Wallace.
Justice Arthur Engoron issued a warning for the courtroom to remain quiet after Trump muttered to his attorneys during testimony. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Justice Arthur Engoron then issued a broad warning to anyone in the courtroom, including Trump and others, to keep quiet — “particularly if it’s meant to influence the testimony" of a witness.
Trump spoke to reporters before entering the courtroom about the hospital blast in Gaza City that killed over 500 people Tuesday.
“It’s a terrible thing, it’s a shame," the former president said.
"The attack on Israel should have never happened. And it would not have happened if they had a different president, I can tell you that," the GOP presidential candidate said. It was unclear if Trump was referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog or even potentially President Biden.
Trump spoke with reporters about the blast at a hospital in Gaza that killed 500 people amid the war between Israel and Hamas. Steven Hirsch
The Health Ministry in Gaza -- which is run by Hamas -- blamed an Israeli airstrike for the carnage but the Israel Defense Forces claimed the bombing was caused by a failed Hamas rocket.
Doug Larson, an executive at real estate advisory firm Newmark, took the witness stand for a second day for Trump’s lawyer to finish their cross-examination of him.
The civil fraud trial picked back up Wednesday with Trump's lawyers questioning prosecution witness Doug Larson. via REUTERS
Larson, an exec at a real estate advisory firm, appraised Trump's 71-story commercial skyscraper in Manhattan's Financial District, eight years ago. AP
NY Attorney General Letitia James alleges the Trump Organization overstated the value of the property at $735.4 million in 2015. AP
Larson on Tuesday testified about how he appraised Trump’s 71-story commercial skyscraper at 40 Wall Street in 2015.
The AG's fraud lawsuit alleges Trump valued the landmarked property at $735.4 million despite a lender-ordered appraisal tagging it at $540 million. via REUTERS
The AG’s office has alleged that the Trump Organization overstated the value of the soaring, landmarked property at $735.4 million in 2015 — despite a lender-ordered appraisal tagging its value at $540 million.
Jack Weisselberg, the son of ex-Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg, and a Cushman & Wakefield executive are next on the AG’s witness list and could be called to testify once Larson wraps.
Donald Trump arrived at Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday morning for the third week of trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ $250 million civil fraud case against him and his company.
The former president attended the case for roughly five hours on Tuesday after an over week-long absence from court.
Trump arrived at Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday morning for the third week of trial in the $250 million fraud case against him and his company. Steven Hirsch
The former president attended the case for roughly five hours on Tuesday after an over week-long absence from court. REUTERS
Trump attorney Alina Habba arrives to court Wednesday morning. Steven Hirsch
Donald Trump inside the courtroom in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday with his defense team. Via REUTERS
Since the trial is civil, the 77-year-old real estate tycoon is not required to attend as he likely will be in the unrelated criminal cases that are still pending against him.
He was present for the first three days of the non-jury trial two weeks ago.
AG Letitia James said “victory will be mine” as she left court and blasted Trump for trying to “distract” from the trial.
“I’m sure he will be back again, and again — he will attempt to distract each and every one of you, attempt to raise his voice and scream,” James said. “But at the end of the day, justice will be served — and I’m confident victory will be mine.”
James made the comments after Trump returned to the lower Manhattan courthouse Tuesday following more than a weeklong break.
The former president took most opportunities coming and going from the courtroom to speak in front of media cameras, ripping the case and speaking about myriad topics including the war in Israel.
“Trump continues to rant and rave, and scream at the cameras,” James added on her way out of the Manhattan courthouse. “He unfortunately continues to use this courtroom to raise his funds for his campaign.
“Mr. Trump unfortunately built his empire on lies, and Mr. Trump, unfortunately, fails to recognize what is happening in court.”
Trump didn’t return to the courtroom following a short afternoon break despite his lawyers coming back and testimony resuming.
The former president was slated to sit for a deposition Tuesday in New York in an unrelated lawsuit but it was unclear what time that would occur.
Meanwhile, at the trial, Trump’s lawyers continued their questioning of Doug Larson, an executive vice president at real estate company Newmark, who testified about appraising Trump’s 40 Wall St. skyscraper in 2015.
Michael Cohen fired back at Donald Trump’s statements that the confidant-turned-rival didn’t “have the guts” to face the former president in court -- reiterating he still planned to testify against his ex-boss.
“If I was afraid of Donald, I wouldn’t have written 2 NYT bestsellers, testified before the Mueller team, seven congressional committees, 23 appearances before the Manhattan DA, and provided information to the NYAG that is the basis of this trial,” Cohen told The Post by email later Tuesday.
Cohen fired back at Trump’s statements Tuesday at a Manhattan courthouse that Cohen didn’t “have the guts” to face the former president in court — reiterating he still planned to testify against his ex-boss. AP
“Looking forward to seeing you in court very soon!” Cohen added.
Trump’s former “fixer” had been slated to testify against his one-time boss this week, but the testimony was delayed due to Cohen’s medical situation. He’s now expected to show in court on Monday at the earliest.