Former President Donald Trump is said to have asked the court to excuse him from appearing in his defamation trial scheduled for next week. Like when he appeared in court earlier this month, he said it was due to traffic jams and blockages and high security requirements.
The New York Times reported on the 19th (local time) that former President Trump’s attorney Joseph Takopina sent a letter containing such content to the judge in charge of the case. Former President Trump is facing a trial for a defamation lawsuit filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan court in New York on the 25th. Carroll accused former President Trump of trying to sexually assault her in the mid-1990s, but after former President Trump claimed it was a lie, he filed a defamation lawsuit.
Attorney Takopina cited the fact that earlier this month, when former President Trump appeared at the Manhattan courthouse to attend the prosecution proceedings related to the alleged sexual silence, there was confusion in the neighborhood and a high level of security was required. did.
He explained that due to former President Trump’s attendance at the time, streets within a 3-block radius near the Manhattan courthouse were blocked for a considerable amount of time, and former President Trump had to be accompanied by about 12 secret bodyguards. He also added that in order for former President Trump to appear in court, he must constantly coordinate his movements with the judge and plan strategies with his security team.
“Some floors and elevators in the courthouse are closed, court staff are required to stay in their offices, and the public is restricted in these areas,” Tacopina said.
In addition, attorney Tacopina requested in a letter to the judge in charge that former President Trump be excused from appearing until a subpoena for testimony is required.
Carroll’s attorney, on the other hand, is said to have sent a letter to the judge in charge of Trump’s request, saying it was “frivolous.”
Carroll’s attorney argued that some of the most high-profile cases in the United States, including terrorism, have been conducted in Manhattan courts, and that the courts are equipped to handle any problems that may arise. He also noted that if former President Trump chose not to appear, “the jury could draw any inferences they wanted,” and that “former President Trump has no legal right to make excuses.”
Carroll’s attorney said former President Trump’s request for non-attendance is difficult to understand in light of recent activities, adding that in recent weeks, former President Trump has also attended UFC events and the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association.
Meanwhile, former President Trump’s side requested a four-week extension to the judge in charge to delay the defamation trial, but it was not accepted.
Former President Trump’s side cited as the reason for requesting a postponement that a fair trial could not be obtained due to the pouring unfavorable media reports regarding the prosecution of the alleged silence. However, the judge in charge rejected the request for a postponement, saying that the indictment of sexual silence was a “completely unrelated case” to the defamation trial.
Source: Donga
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.