Former US President Donald Trump, who has been embroiled in a civil lawsuit over past sexual assault charges, has decided not to testify as a witness in his trial.
According to the New York Times (NYT) and CNBC on the 3rd (local time), former President Trump’s lawyer Joseph Takopina revealed that he had conveyed this position to Judge Lewis Caplan of the Southern District of New York on the same day.
Tacopina told the judge that one of the witnesses was unable to appear in court due to health problems and that Trump himself had no intention of testifying in person.
As a result, the trial is expected to close this week without the presence of witnesses to claim former President Trump’s innocence.
Former President Trump has not appeared in court since the trial began last week.
Meanwhile, a video of former President Trump’s remarks about the incident in October of last year was screened in front of the jury the day before.
In a 20-minute video released that day, former President Trump dismissed columnist E. Jean Carroll’s claims of sexual assault, saying, “It’s the most ridiculous and disgusting story,” and “just made up.”
Another video that day included former President Trump’s remarks in the ‘Access Hollywood’ TV program broadcast in 2005.
In the video, former President Trump said, “I am automatically attracted to beautiful women. You naturally kiss them. You don’t have to wait,” he said. “When you become a star, they let you do anything. You can put your hands anywhere,” he added.
Carroll’s attorneys are expected to present another testimony to the jury on the 4th.
In the mid-1990s, Carroll accused former President Trump of trying to rape her, but filed a defamation lawsuit after former President Trump claimed it was a lie.
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.