Screen capture from video filmed during testimony by Donald Trump on October 19, 2022 and shown to the jury of his civil trial in New York on May 4, 2023. PA
Sometimes vehement, sometimes hesitant: This is how Donald Trump appears in the video of his testimony before the jury of the civil trial in New York published on Thursday, May 4th, in which the former US President is accused of rape. The video released on Friday was broadcast by many American media outlets.
For forty-eight minutes, we see Donald Trump, blue tie and white shirt under a dark jacket, defending himself and answering questions from Roberta Kaplan, the plaintiff’s attorney, former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.
In a 2019 book, the now 79-year-old ex-journalist accused Donald Trump of raping her in a fitting room in the lingerie department of New York luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s. then in November 2022 for rape in a civil trial.
Also read: Article reserved for our subscribers Donald Trump: rape allegations by American writer E. Jean Carroll in court
The Republican billionaire did not appear at the trial, which began last week. In his absence, excerpts from the October 2022 trial video were broadcast during the trial.
“It’s very vague”
“It’s the most ridiculous, disgusting story. It’s an invention out of nowhere,” he says of the allegations, calling E. Jean Carroll a “liar” and “sick.”
In his testimony, Donald Trump reiterated that he did not know the journalist and firmly affirmed that she “didn’t”. [son] Gender”. But when the attorney shows him a photo of himself in front of E. Jean Carroll at a party years before they allegedly met in 1996, he mistakes the plaintiff for his ex-wife Marla. His attorney then steps in : “That’s it [E. Jean] Carroll,” she corrects him. At first, the ex-president assured, amazed: “It’s very vague. »
Defense-submitted photo of Donald Trump in front of E. Jean Carroll, at a party, years before their alleged 1996 meeting. AP
The former president is also invited to respond to his remarks in a now-famous video in 2005, in which we hear him brag about kissing and touching the women he likes at will, adding: “If you’re a star are, she let you do it. You can do everything. Catch her by the pussy. »
“It’s historically true for stars (…) if you look at the last million years, I think it’s true to a large extent, not always, but to a large extent, whether we regret it or not,” he explains. “And do you consider yourself a star? ‘ asks E. John Carroll’s attorney. “I think you can say that, yes,” he replies.
Several journalists had asked the presiding judge on Thursday after the trial to release the video, but he ruled it was up to the parties to do so.