Maggie Haberman, a New York Points reporter and CNN contributor, told Jake Tapper that Donald Trump “appeared to be asleep” at points during the first day of court proceedings in Manhattan.
Jury selection has begun in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against the former president for hush money payments to adult entertainment star Stormy Daniels.
“I have to ask you, you at the Times have been live blogging this event, and 40 minutes ago you wrote an observation that I was very surprised by,” CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Haberman as she joined the network’s special coverage of the trial.
Haberman said on his blog that “Trump appears to be sleeping, his head keeps dropping down, and his mouth goes slack.”
“Tell us about that,” Tapper asked.
“Well, Jake, he appeared to be asleep,” Haberman stated simply. “Repeatedly his head would fall down.”
In other trials, like the E. Jean Carroll trial, “where he appeared very still and seemed as if he might be sleeping but then he would move.”
“This time, he didn’t pay attention to a note that his lawyer passed him,” Haberman said. “His jaw dropped to his chest and his mouth drooped. Sometimes people do fall asleep during court sessions, but it’s unusual considering the intensity of this morning.”
“That’s rather surprising,” Tapper added, referring to the importance of this trial.