In 2019, Jean Carroll made serious allegations against Donald Trump: the billionaire raped her in the 1990s, the author claims. The former US President is due to testify in court next week. First in a defamation case.
Former US President Donald Trump is due in court next week to answer questions about a rape allegation against him. A judge in New York rejected a request by Trump’s lawyers to postpone testimony scheduled for Wednesday. According to the court documents, this does not constitute “an unreasonable burden” for the 76-year-old.
The case concerns a defamation lawsuit brought by the author Jean Carroll. In 2019, she accused Trump of raping her in a dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump responded, among other things, with the words: “She’s not my type.” The former president went on to say that he had never met her. Carroll is just trying to sell her new book and has accused other men of similar things.
The 78-year-old author then accused Trump of damaging her reputation with his comments and is filing a lawsuit. She had raised the allegation in New York Magazine and later presented it in more detail. Her hearing is scheduled for next Friday.
Trump has been repeatedly accused of assaulting women. In a statement, his lawyer, Alina Habba, said she looked forward to clarifying in court that there was no basis for the case.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said her client is pleased with the decision and looks forward to filing a rape lawsuit next month. Then a new law in the US state of New York will come into force that will remove the current 20-year statute of limitations for victims of a sexual assault.
According to the Washington Post, Trump’s lawyers have tried several times in the past to delay the case and prevent testimony in court. Ultimately, the judge responsible is said to have dismissed the most recent application, among other things, and ordered a speedy hearing because the former president and Carroll, at 76 and 78, as well as possible witnesses, are already of advanced age. “In view of such serious allegations, the accused should not be allowed to play for time,” he said in his justification.