Donald Trump’s lawyer labeled E. Jean Carroll’s rape and defamation suit against the former president a “insult to justice.”
In closing remarks in a federal court civil trial in Manhattan, Joseph Tacopina urged jurors to set aside their views toward Trump and reject Carroll’s effort to “profit” from a false allegation.
E. Jean Carroll’s acts are illegal. “She abused this system by bringing a false claim for money, status, and politics,” Tacopina said.
Trump claims Carroll lied in order to promote her 2019 book.
Carroll, 79, sued Trump, 76, last year, alleging that he raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996, then defamed her by denying it. The former Elle advice writer is suing for an unknown amount of money.
Her defamation suit originates from Trump’s Truth Social post in October 2022, in which he called her claims a “complete con job” and “a hoax and a lie.”
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said on Monday that a 2005 “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump boasts women let him “grab ’em by the pussy” backed Carroll and other sexual assault accusations.
“He admitted on video to doing exactly the kinds of things that have brought us here to this courtroom,” Kaplan said in her closing speech.
Trump, who was president from 2017 to 2021 and is the Republican presidential front-runner in 2024, waived his right to testify and did not present a defense, banking that Carroll would fail to convince jurors.
Tacopina alleged that Carroll’s inability to recall the date of the encounter stopped Trump from defending himself.
“With no date, month, or year, you can’t present an alibi, and you can’t call witnesses,” he said. “What they want is for you to hate him enough to ignore the facts.”
Last Thursday, Trump informed Irish media that he “probably” would attend the trial, which began on April 25. Carroll’s lawyer, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, predicted that jurors will begin deliberations on Tuesday.
In a video deposition shown for the jury on Wednesday, Trump denied raping Carroll.
“It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” Trump proclaims in the video. “It’s just made up.”
Two more women accuse Trump, he denies it.
Carroll said Trump slammed her against the wall, inserted his fingers into her vagina, and entered his penis.
Carroll’s close friends stated they believed her when she notified them about the event right away. Two more women testified that Trump had sexually assaulted them decades ago. Trump also opposes them.
“Three different women, decades apart, but one single pattern of behavior,” Roberta Kaplan said, adding that Trump’s defense was asking jurors to accept the “ridiculous” claim that other witnesses conspired to lie.
Carroll’s compensatory and punitive damages were not identified by Kaplan. Carroll had been unable to establish a meaningful relationship with her client after the alleged rape, and Trump’s public denunciation had harmed her client’s reputation.
“This lawsuit is not about money for E. Jean Carroll,” Kaplan said. “This lawsuit seeks to reclaim her name.”
