Trump lawyer calls E. Jean Carroll’s rape declare ‘work of fiction’ at NYC trial
Donald Trump’s lawyer stated Monday that accuser E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusations are a “work of fiction” — and claimed she desires jurors of their civil trial to hate the previous president a lot they “ignore reality.”
Trump legal professional Joe Tacopina made the statements during closing remarks in the Manhattan federal court trial over Carroll’s lawsuit accusing the forty fifth president of attacking her in a Bergdorf Goodman becoming room, probably in 1996.
“The entire story is clearly an unbelievable work of fiction,” Tacopina stated of Carroll’s claims, calling them “an affront to justice.”
Tacopina stated that Carroll’s staff desires jurors “to hate” Trump, 76, “sufficient to disregard details.”
The truth that Carroll, 79, didn’t report the alleged assault to the police after it occurred, and that she couldn’t nail down the precise date, month or 12 months she was assaulted are all indications that it’s a bogus declare, Tacopina argued.
“They don’t need to slim down the timeframe as a result of they don’t need Donald Trump to current an alibi witness,” Tacopina advised the jury of Carroll’s attorneys.
He additionally introduced up a “Legislation & Order: Particular Victims Unit” episode from earlier than Carroll went public in 2019 that had the same plot line as her rape allegations — calling it “one of many largest issues” Carroll’s aspect has “that can not be ignored.”
Carroll was previously asked about the 2012 episode in query and testified that she was “conscious” of it however had not seen it.
Her lawyer Roberta Kaplan argued earlier Monday that Trump had a skinny case, which she alleged was confirmed by the truth that he didn’t name any witnesses or current any proof at trial.
“He didn’t even hassle to point out up right here in individual,” Kaplan stated, noting that jurors solely saw Trump’s deposition video.
In the meantime, Carroll gave emotional testimony throughout her three days on the stand, saying she might nonetheless keep in mind the ache from the alleged rape. Her attorneys additionally referred to as 10 different witnesses.
However Tacopina countered that, “We’re saying it by no means occurred as a result of it didn’t occur… How do you show a detrimental?”
“There are not any witnesses to name,” he stated.
And as for 2 different Trump accusers, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who had been referred to as by Carroll’s attorneys, Tacopina stated their testimony shouldn’t influence on whether or not the jury believes Carroll’s claims.
“They don’t have anything to do with whether or not you imagine E. Jean Carroll’s unbelievable story,” he stated in court docket.
The closing remarks come after seven days of trial unfold over two weeks. The nine-person jury is anticipated to start deliberations on Tuesday.
They have to decide whether or not Trump is answerable for the alleged sexual assault and whether or not he defamed Carroll when he denied her claims calling them a “hoax” in a Reality Social publish from October 2019.