The US author Carroll accuses ex-US President Trump of raping her in a department store in the 1990s. In an affidavit he denied this as “fictitious”.
Former US President Donald Trump has described the rape allegation made against him by the author E. Jean Carroll as ridiculous in an affidavit.
Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman luxury department store in Manhattan, New York, in the 1990s was “the most ridiculous, disgusting story. It’s fictitious,” he said in his statement, according to the AP news agency. which was videotaped in October but not played in the courtroom until Wednesday. The attack never happened.
The former columnist’s lawyers played about 30 minutes of excerpts. “If it had happened, it would have been reported within minutes,” Trump said on the recording. Customers and employees would definitely have taken notice of the “very busy business,” he said. The jury was expected to see more excerpts today.
Psychologist explains Carroll’s long silence
When asked about Carroll’s long silence, a psychologist called by the author’s defense responded. In cross-examination, Trump’s lawyers had tried to discredit Carroll. For example, they questioned why she didn’t scream or go to the police. The psychologist explained that it is common for rape victims to remain silent and blame themselves.
Carroll first made her allegation public in a book 17 years after the alleged assault and only told two close friends about it beforehand. In the book, she describes a chance encounter with Trump in the spring of 1996 that ended in violence after they both asked each other to try on underwear.
More women accuse Trump
Carroll’s defense had already called two women to the witness stand with similar allegations against Trump on Tuesday and Wednesday. Former author Natasha Stoynoff accused him of kissing her against her will during an interview. Another 81-year-old woman also testified that Trump had molested her in the past: “He tried to kiss me, to pull me towards him. He grabbed my breasts.”
Trump himself did not take part in the process, but was traveling – including to Ireland. According to the AP, when asked by journalists there, he said: “I hear we’re doing very well in New York.”
According to his own statement, his lawyers do not want to call any witnesses. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday before the jury is scheduled to retire for its deliberations on Tuesday.