Suspicion of defamation over columnist sexual harassment claims
Sexual harassment has already been acknowledged, but it is also “completely false”
Conclusion as early as tomorrow… Trump expected to appear in court again
Former President Donald Trump, a leading Republican presidential candidate, appeared as a witness in a lawsuit seeking damages for defamation on the 25th (local time).
When the judge stopped him from denying allegations of sexual harassment for which compensation had already been awarded, he complained, saying, “This is not America.”
According to CNN and the New York Times (NYT), former President Trump sat as a witness in the defamation trial filed by former fashion magazine columnist E Gene Carroll held in the Southern District Court of New York on this day.
This trial is about allegations that former President Trump defamed the victim, Carroll, through a statement denying allegations of sexual harassment in 2019. The court ruled that the allegations of sexual harassment previously raised by Carroll were true in May of last year.
Carroll’s side is demanding $10 million in compensation, saying he has suffered extensive damage due to former President Trump’s claims, including being defamed and receiving death threats.
Former President Trump consistently denied allegations of sexual harassment as well as defamation.
When asked by his defense attorney whether he had ever given instructions to attack Carroll, he responded in a statement, “No.” “I just wanted to protect myself, my family, and honestly, the presidency,” he replied.
When asked whether he denied the allegations raised by Carroll, he said, “That is exactly so,” and added, “He said what I believe are false accusations. “It’s completely false,” he said.
When he denied the allegations of sexual harassment, which had already been decided, the judge directly intervened and ordered that the remarks be deleted from the statement record.
The testimony ended in less than five minutes, and former President Trump left his seat and said three times in a voice that could be heard by the outsiders, “This is not America.” He appears to have expressed his dissatisfaction with the proceedings.
Even before his testimony on this day, while the judge and defense counsel were discussing, former President Trump said, “I have never met this woman. “I don’t know who he is,” she said, raising her voice and being stopped by the judge.
NYT said, “Former President Trump’s attempt was to put on the record that he denied sexually harassing Carroll, but the judge did not allow it,” adding, “In the previous trial, former President Trump read aloud that he had sexually harassed Carroll, and the scene was recorded. When describing it, former President Trump even shouted, “Ugh.”
The trial was held on this day with all nine jurors present. The newspaper reported that closing arguments from both sides will be heard tomorrow morning, and a verdict is likely to be delivered as early as tomorrow afternoon.
Former President Trump is expected to attend the trial in person tomorrow.
[워싱턴=뉴시스]
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.