Trump seeks to delay E. Jean Carroll civil rape trial in NYC
Former President Donald Trump is looking for to delay his upcoming civil trial on allegations he raped author E. Jean Carroll within the Nineties – arguing for a “cooling off” interval after his indictment on legal prices late final month.
Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina requested the month-long delay in a letter Tuesday to Choose Lewis Kaplan, who will oversee the trial in Manhattan federal court docket.
The trial is scheduled to start on April 25.
“Holding the trial of this case a mere three weeks after these historic occasions will assure that many, if not most, potential jurors can have the legal allegations prime of thoughts when judging President Trump’s protection in opposition to Ms. Carroll’s allegations,” Tacopina wrote.
“President Trump can solely obtain a good trial in a calmer media atmosphere than the one created by the New York County district lawyer,” he added.
Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in March on 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise data related to hush-money payments ahead of the 2016 election and pleaded not responsible at an April 4 arraignment in Manhattan legal court docket.
In response to the request, Carroll’s lawyer urged Judge Kaplan not to grant the delay, arguing the claims had been meritless and can present him extra alternative to keep away from the Manhattan federal court docket trial.
“Trump’s mounting authorized difficulties have given rise to substantial press protection and can proceed to take action; he isn’t solely a former President, but in addition a declared candidate within the subsequent presidential election,” lawyer Roberta Kaplan wrote.
“In consequence, every passing week will supply Trump yet one more straw to know at in his marketing campaign to avoid standing trial for sexually assaulting Carroll,” she added.
In her swimsuit, Carroll claims Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room within the Nineties after which made defamatory statements that attacked her for making the allegation.
Choose Kaplan has but to rule on the request by Trump.