Donald Trump he mistook reporter E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of rape in the 1990s, for his ex-wife Marla Maples. He reveals it in a judicial act of an October communiqué released this Thursday in the United States.
The paths of Trump (76 years old) and Carroll (79) have crossed in the stands of New York with a double civil lawsuit since 2019. The former columnist of the magazine she she sued him for defamation and rape. She claims that the former US president raped her in the dressing room of a department store in New York in 1995 or 1996.
In June 2019, the then president described his allegations as a “complete lie”. Faced with this situation, Carroll filed a lawsuit for defamation. Later in November, she filed a second lawsuit under a new law that allowed her to sue him assault, even though the statute of limitations had expired.
Both sides filed their affidavits last October. Video of Trump’s appearance was made public this week, broadcast to unusual situation.
During his Oct. 19 testimony, the politician and businessman reiterated his line of defense from his Mar-a-Lago villa: “I will say this with the utmost respect: First, she’s not my type; Secondly, the crime he is accused of never happened.
Trump said that while it’s not “politically correct” to say he’s not his type, he said he had to defend himself. He added that he shouldn’t be taken as an insult.
But when shown a photo of her with Carroll at a 1990s reception, he replied, “That’s Marla, that’s my wife.” It was Alina Habba, his lawyer, who came to his rescue and corrected him.
Donald Trump, who was married to actress Marla Maples from 1993 to 1999 and met his current wife Melania in 1998, will appear in court in New York on April 10.
More responses from Donald Trump in the release
According to sources cited by CNN and the Washington Post, the blunder risks undermining one of Trump’s main defense arguments: that he could not have sexually assaulted Carroll because he was not his type.
In the same hearing, when asked if he’d ever kissed a woman without her consent, Trump hesitantly testified, “Well, no… I can’t think of any complaints. But no. I mean, I don’t think so.” He also denied touching a woman’s breasts or buttocks.
Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan asked her, “Have you ever pressured a woman to have sex with you?” To which the former president replied in her own provocative style: “The answer is no. But you may have some people, like your client, who are willing to lie.”
With information from ANSA and AFP
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.