Trump answers questions under oath for rape allegations in NY court

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Oct 2022 09:57

Trump's deposition allowed E. Jean Carroll's lawyers a chance to interrogate Trump.

Former US President Donald Trump. (Archive)

Former US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, answered questions under oath in a lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, who has accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room.

This gave Carroll's lawyers a chance to interrogate Trump about the allegations, in addition to statements he made in 2019 when she revealed her story publicly for the first time.

“We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further," said Kaplan Hecker & Fink in a statement - the firm representing Carroll.

Trump slammed the allegations as a "hoax and a lie." His lawyers have spent years delaying his deposition in the lawsuit, which was filed when he was president at the time. Last week, a federal judge rejected Trump's latest response for another postponement.

“My client was pleased to set the record straight today. This case is nothing more than a political ploy like many others in the long list of witch hunts against Donald Trump," said Alina Habba, the attorney representing Trump.

Trump's lawyers were supposed to question Carroll last Friday - however, the lawyers have not disclosed whether Trump's question was done on-site or remotely.

Trump's answers could be used as evidence in the upcoming trial; the former president has not yet faced any criminal charges related to the allegations against him. The deadline for criminal charges over sexual assaults which occurred in the 1990s has expired long ago.

In reaction to this expiry date, Carroll chose to sue Trump over defamation comments that he made in 2019 when he denied committing any crime, arguing her point of view that his comments damaged her reputation and that his denials were attacks on her credibility and character.

As of recent, New York lawmakers allowed sex assault survivors one year to report claims to courts. That rule will rise into effect in late November, when Carroll's lawyers says she intends to file a suit.