Trump attorney Alina Habba slams judge foe warning ex-president may have to ... trends now
Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba echoed her client's frustrations that he might miss son Barron's high school graduation because of appearing in court in his first criminal trial.
Habba, one of the more well known members of Trump's legal team, is a civil attorney for the former president – so she did not appear alongside her client during his criminal proceedings Monday.
Trump lambasted Judge Juan Merchan in his historic hush money trial for the potential he could refuse him permission to get out of court to attend his 18-year-old son's graduation next month.
The 77-year-old appeared in New York criminal court on Monday in the first day of jury selection in the case alleging he falsified documents related to payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
'This is political,' Habba told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday of the trial. 'It's election interference.'
Trump attorney Alina Habba lambasted Judge Juan Merchan for not ensuring former President Donald Trump will be able to get out of going to court in Manhattan on May 17 to attend his son's high school graduation
Pictured with his father, Barron Trump, 18, is graduating from high school next month
'You're not even allowing a father – never mind a former president – but a father attend his son's graduation?' she lamented, adding: 'It's just a sad state of affairs for the American people. I can assure you of that.'
Some questioned why Habba wasn't with the former president for his bombshell first appearance at the criminal trial in Manhattan on Monday.
She told conservative podcast The Benny Show of her absence: 'Obviously, you know, being a type A person, I wish I was a criminal attorney but I'm not.'
'But the great news is that, then I can do this and let everybody know what is actually happening,' she countered.
Habba defended Trump in the civil trial in Manhattan were he was convicted of inflating the value of his businesses' properties and ordered to pay $355 million plus interest.
Trump castigated Judge Merchan for stopping him going to the U.S. Supreme Court next week for a hearing related to January 6 at the same time he complained about potentially missing his son's high school graduation.
He let loose outside the court after day one of jury selection as he became the first U.S. ex-president to stand criminal trial.
Barron, 18, graduates from high school on May 17 and the trial is set to still be going on by then.
A furious Trump said: 'It looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation of my son who's worked very, very hard.
Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 16, for the second day of the historic criminal trial against him as jury selection continues from the day prior
'He's a great student and he's very proud of the fact he did so well and was looking forward for years to having his graduation with his mother and father there, and it looks like the judge isn't gong to allow me to escape this scam, it' a scam trial.'
Habba slammed the judge for also not allowing those involved in the proceedings out to observe Passover.
'And let's not forget – Passover, ok?' she said to Hannity on Monday. 'Observant the Jews have a right to go and pray to who they want and observe Passover. And this judge would not allow it. Not for any of the attorneys.'
'And there are observant Jewish attorneys on the Trump team and as well on the D.A. team.'
Merchan decided that the court will not meet on the last two days of the holiday, which lasts one week.
He did, however, refuse Trump permission to be at the Supreme Court next week for arguments related to charges against January 6 defendants for obstructing an official proceeding, a case which could impact other criminal trials against the former president.
Trump claimed it was part of a 'political witch
