New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik was called out for lying and crying after she accused Judge Lewis Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York of "election interference."
Stefanik—chair of the House Republican Conference—took to X on Monday to make her false claim. The position of the GOP House chair—4th highest-ranking Republican in the House—was conferred on Stefanik for her unwavering loyalty to Trump after it was stripped from former Republican Representative Liz Cheney in 2021.
Reposting from pro-Trump account johnny maga, Stefanik captioned her hot take:
"This is blatant election interference!"
" Joe Biden and his Democrat cronies are the true threats to democracy!"
"TRUMP 2024!"
Stefanik's post was almost immediately rebutted with context from X users.
In addition to the added context on the original post, CNN correspondent Paula Reid also corrected Stefanik's blatant misinformation.
Reposting Stefanik, Reid posted:
"What? The judge gave lawyers the option to continue with just eight jurors, after one went home sick, but Trump lawyer said she wanted an adjournment for the day."
"The Trump team had a choice and chose not to proceed today."
Stefanik had grossly distorted the truth.
Judge Kaplan is presiding over trial proceedings in writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation trial against Donald Trump.
On Monday, Judge Kaplan announced a juror was ill and unable to attend court. He then asked legal counsel for both parties if they wanted to continue with 8 jurors.
E. Jean Carroll’s attorneys agreed to proceed. But Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, requested an adjournment.
Habba told the judge she was also ill with a fever. She added she was exposed to COVID-19 during dinner with her parents and asked for the trial to be adjourned for the day.
Judge Kaplan granted Trump's lawyer's request. Monday's proceedings were pushed to Tuesday, which happens to be the day of the New Hampshire GOP primary.
Reid wasn't alone in pointing out Stefanik's lies.
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Habba requested additional concessions for her client, telling Judge Kaplan:
"So tomorrow is the New Hampshire primary and [Donald Trump] needs to be in New Hampshire."
"He was planning to testify—clearly, he flew in last night to be here. I would just need his testimony to be Wednesday in light of the news about the juror today."
Judge Kaplan in the end did grant the request and the trial will resume Wednesday.
Trump was already found liable of defaming E. Jean Carroll and liable for sexually abusing her in the 1990s. This trial—linked to denials about the assault Trump made while President—will determine damages.
Stefanik—who originally campaigned as a moderate—went full MAGA minion once the benefits of absolute fealty to Donald Trump became apparent.
The New York Republican has since become the poster child for self-interest and the weaponization of lies by the GOP through social media and conservative media outlets.
Stefanik is widely seen as waging an aggressive campaign to be Trump's 2024 running mate.
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