Trump lawyer Alina Habba backtracks on incendiary claim against E Jean Carroll attorney
Alina Habba and Roberta Kaplan exchanged a passive aggresive back-and-forth of letters to Judge Lewis Kaplan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alina Habba, the attorney for Donald Trump who recently defended him in the E Jean Carroll defamation trial, walked back her claim that Ms Carroll’s attorney had a “mentor type relationship” with the judge who oversaw the trial after being threatened with sanctions.
Three days after a jury in New York awarded Ms Carroll $83.3 million in damages, Ms Habba filed a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan inquiring about his relationship with Roberta Kaplan, one of Ms Carroll’s attorney. Ms Habba cited a New York Post “exclusive” that said Judge Kaplan and Ms Kaplan worked together in the 1990s and had a “mentor” relationship.
Ms Habba accused Judge Kaplan of displaying “preferential treatment” toward Ms Kaplan and her associates and asked the court to provide more information on the “troubling matter.”
Throughout the defamation trial, Judge Kaplan grew frustrated with Mr Trump’s counsel’s blunders, miscommunications and requests. At times he instructed Ms Habba to sit down, stop talking and respect his ruling.
But just two days later, Ms Habba was forced to backtrack her informal complaint after Ms Kaplan responded to the conflict of interest accusation by denying having a “mentor” relationship and threatening to seek sanctions under a rule that prohibits filing something that does not contain contentions with evidentiary support.
Ms Kaplan clarified that she worked at the same large law firm where Judge Kaplan was a senior litigator but their careers crossed over for less than two years. Additionally, Ms Kaplan said did not know Judge Kaplan well during that time.
“While Ms Habba ends her letter by characterizing this as a “troubling matter”... what is actually troubling is both the substance and timing of her false accusations of impropriety by on the part of E Jean Carroll’s counsel or the Court,” Ms Kaplan wrote.
Mr Trump’s attorney responded quickly, saying the only purpose of her initial letter was to seek more information on the judge and Ms Kaplan’s relationship and declared the issue “seemingly resolved” after Ms Kaplan’s clarification.
Judge Kaplan has not responded to either letter and it is unclear if he will. A court official told NBC News, the judge had no comment on it.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments