Judge scolds Trump 'boxing' in court

Property tycoon-turned-reality TV star Donald Trump arrives at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse to testify in a civil case involving his Trump Tower in Chicago overnight. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

A FEDERAL judge scolded Donald Trump and an attorney questioning the developer-turned-TV personality to stop their verbal sparring during his testimony at a civil trial.

Trump is accused of making false promises to an investor in his Trump International Hotel & Tower in downtown Chicago.

The warning came during Trump's his second day of testimony. Trump and the plaintiff's attorney, Shelly Kulwin, repeatedly talked over each other. A visibly agitated Trump scowled, and Mr Kulwin rolled his eyes at Trump's answers.

After an hour, Judge Amy St. Eve told the men, "This is not a boxing match."

After jurors left the room, the judge said Trump's testimony would run into a third day if the sparring continued. She told them, "Let's get control of ourselves."

The crux of the case is whether, as the plaintiff alleges, Trump remained hands-on in the development of the Chicago tower and planned all along to offer a profit-sharing plan to woo buyers and then to renege on it after they bought in.

Defence attorneys have tried to portray Trump as a big-picture executive who delegated the decision about pulling the profit-sharing plan to others.

The trial stems from a lawsuit filed by the investor, Jacqueline Goldberg, 87. She agreed in 2006 to buy two condos for around $US1 million apiece at the 92-story luxury building. It boasts more than 300 hotel rooms and nearly 500 condominiums in a prime location next to the Chicago River and just two blocks from Michigan Avenue.

The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and deceptive practices. It seeks the return of a $US500,000 deposit Ms Goldberg made for the properties and other unspecified damages.

Ms Goldberg's legal team has portrayed the sale of the condos as a bait-and-switch, where Trump and his executives sought to make the properties more attractive investments by telling would-be buyers they would reap a percentage of profits from banquet hall rentals, food sales, laundry, parking and other services.

Trump hosts the reality television show The Apprentice.

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Judge Judy's son 'influenced rape case'

Judge Judy's son is accused of interfering in a child rape case. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

THE district attorney son of TV's Judge Judy is accused of interfering in a child rape case, in which the suspect is his personal trainer and recently lived with him.

Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy has recused himself from the investigation of Alexandru Hossu but the local sheriff claims Levy is still involved.

"He is apparently trying to influence and affect the investigation, which could be perceived as an ethical violation of his official duties and perhaps even as an attempt to undermine it," Sheriff Donald Smith says.

Levy on Monday night accused the sheriff of making "unfounded allegations and misstatements".

"My office acted properly in every aspect of the investigation," he said.

The question of Levy's involvement in the case has turned into a volley of accusations between the two men, who have clashed publicly before.

Hossu, 35, was arrested last week on charges he twice raped a 12-year-old girl in 2010.

The sheriff said the victim, now 15, only recently reported being raped.

Hossu made a brief appearance in court on Tuesday and is due back on May 7.

A call to his lawyer was not immediately returned.

In his initial news release, the sheriff gave the defendant's address as Levy's home in Southeast, New York. Later, he described Hossu as Levy's "live-in personal trainer".

Levy said the sheriff had made a mistake.

The sheriff's office said on Monday Hossu did live at Levy's home but "the specific dates" have not been determined.

Levy said he recused himself as soon as he learned Hossu, "who my family had known for years", was under investigation.

But the sheriff said an assistant district attorney had already made the recusal decision for Levy, so it "was not really his original idea at all".

Smith said Levy's commenting on the case revealed "ongoing and improper involvement".

"In my view, Mr Levy's comments and actions would seem to suggest that, if he could have his own way, Mr Hossu would never have been brought to justice for his crime and Mr Levy's relationship with him would never have been brought to the light of public scrutiny," the sheriff said.

The sheriff also said Hossu is a Romanian in the country illegally, his work visa having expired 12 years ago.

Both Levy and Smith are Republicans. It's not clear whether there's any underlying reason for the war of words, though the men battled last year over how to handle traffic tickets.

Judy Sheindlin, who is Levy's mother, a retired New York judge and earns a reported $US45 million ($A43.21 million) a year as the star of her courtroom TV show, said the focus of the story should be the investigation as to whether a young girl was the victim of a very serious crime.

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Klum new 'America's Got Talent' judge

Heidi Klum will become a judge on America's Got Talent, as well as continuing to host the award-winning Project Runway and Germany's Next Top Model. Picture: Evan Agostini Source: AP

NBC says Heidi Klum has been added to America's Got Talent as its fourth judge.

The network announced Monday that the supermodel will join fellow incoming judge Mel B for the talent competition's eighth season. Howie Mandel and Howard Stern will be back at the judges' panel.

Klum says she's excited to join the show and size up the talent, "from the ridiculous to the fantastic!"

The reality television program is part of the global British 'Got Talent' franchise, created by Simon Cowell, that includes Australia's Got Talent.

It t features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the top prize of one million dollars.

Kium continues to host the award-winning Project Runway, as well as Germany's Next Top Model.

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Seven's new X-Factor judge revealed

Redfoo of LMFAO is set to join Natalie Bassingthwaite and Ronan Keating on the X Factor panel. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

WITH Guy Sebastian and Mel B pulling out, speculation has been rife as to who will sit on the X Factor judging panel.

Confidential can reveal Seven has all but signed on the dotted line with former LMFAO frontman, Redfoo.

The writing was on the wall when the network shamelessly plugged the wacky singer throughout their Australian Open coverage.

The hairy rapper, who dates tennis champ Victoria Azarenka, is said to have impressed Seven executives when he was here, with plenty of wooing off court.

Stefan Kendal Gordy, aka Redfoo, certainly has the DNA to pick a star.

He is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jnr, who discovered worldwide acts such as the Supremes, Marvin Gaye as well as the Jackson Five.

Meanwhile, Dannii Minogue has firmed as the other seat on the judging panel next to Ronan Keating and Natalie Bassingthwaighte.

A sweetheart of network executives, the station was adamant to have Minogue remain at the "Seven family'' following Australia's Got Talent moving to Channel 9.

Having worked on The X Factor UK for four years, Minogue knows the format.

And with her work commitments in the UK as a judge on Britain and Ireland's Text Top Model soon to be finished,
Minogue would be free to start work on the reality singing series back in Australia.

Seven yesterday went to ground when called.’

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