(LibertyInsider.org) – Writer E. Jean Carroll won a civil suit against former President Donald Trump in May 2023 when a jury found he sexually assaulted her in 1996 and later defamed her. The jury awarded her $5 million. After the verdict, the former president again accused her of lying, and she sued him for defamation a second time. The 45th POTUS’ legal team now wants him to be able to testify in the second civil trial.
The second civil trial is underway between Trump and Carroll. Prior to the state of the proceedings, the former president’s attorney, Alina Habba, accused the writer’s legal team of trying to “pigeonhole” Trump. Habba was responding to a request by Carroll’s lawyers asking Judge Lewis Kaplan to give the ex-POTUS clear guidelines about what he’s allowed to say if he takes the stand to defend himself.
Habba argued Trump should be allowed to defend himself because the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape where he was caught saying women let them grab them by the genitals was allowed into evidence.
Kaplan has already said Trump isn’t allowed to tell the jury that Carroll lied about the attack or that he didn’t rape her. When allowing the video into evidence, the judge said it could allow the jury to see a pattern of behavior from the billionaire.
On January 12, Trump’s attorney also asked the judge to adjourn the defamation trial for a week because he has to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral on January 17 and 18. Trump also scheduled a campaign rally on the 17th. The judge rejected the request because the former POTUS wasn’t required to attend the trial.
However, Kaplan offered to delay the end of the trial to allow Trump an opportunity to testify on January 22. The former president has not said whether he will accept the judge’s offer. If he does, it would mean he will be in New York the day before the New Hampshire primary.
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