Trump misses last deadline to testify in E. Jean Carroll defamation trial

Former President Donald Trump has declined the chance to testify at his civil trial for a defamation swimsuit introduced by writer E. Jean Carroll.

Carroll's case facilities round her 2019 declare that Trump raped her in a New York Metropolis division retailer dressing room in 1996 and the previous president's subsequent denial — calling the allegations a "hoax," which she argues is defamatory. Trump's attorneys had advised U.S. District Choose Lewis Kaplan that their shopper didn't intend to testify, however Kaplan supplied the previous president a 3 day window to rethink after he mentioned in Eire final week that he was heading again to the US to "in all probability attend" the trial.

DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WILL PROBABLY ATTEND E. JEAN CARROLL DEFAMATION TRIAL

“I've to return for a girl that made a false accusation about me, and I've a choose who's extraordinarily hostile,” Trump advised reporters from the golf course at his namesake Eire property earlier this month. “And I’m going to return, and I’m going to confront this. This girl is a shame, and it shouldn’t be allowed to occur in our nation.”

“If he has second ideas, I’ll at the least think about it,” Kaplan mentioned whereas ordering the three day extension.

Trump's authorized crew had till 5 p.m. EST on Sunday to tell the court docket of a call. As anticipated, nothing was filed.

The trial now strikes to the closing arguments section, which is able to start on Monday. The columnist is searching for unspecified damages, which means Trump could possibly be on the hook for hundreds of thousands in damages if the court docket guidelines in Carroll's favor.

Carroll testified that she and Trump met by likelihood at Bergdorf Goodman within the spring of 1996, whereas he was nonetheless married to his second spouse Marla Maples. She mentioned that the encounter started as enjoyable and flirtatious as he satisfied her to assist him store for a present for an additional girl.

Carroll testified that the 2 ended up within the retailer's lingerie part, the place they teased one another to attempt on a risque bodysuit, earlier than shifting to a dressing room. She alleges that Trump then violently slammed her up in opposition to a wall and raped her till she kneed him and fled the shop.

Trump adamantly denied the allegations in a filmed deposition, saying, "It did not happen. She is a sick particular person, in my view. Actually sick. There's something improper along with her."

“It’s probably the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” he mentioned at a later level. “It was simply made up.”