Will Donald Trump testify on Monday? As the civil trial against the former US President accused of defamation and rape comes to an end, the judge left the door ajar on Thursday. While on holiday in Ireland, Donald Trump had assured journalists that he intended to “go back and confront his accuser,” but his attorney, Joe Tacopina, seemed to rule out that hypothesis.
That means the jury has to rely, bar one twist, on the video testimony of Donald Trump’s official testimony, which took place last year. It was published on Friday, including the moment he mixed up ex-columnist E. Jean Carroll and his then-wife Marla Maples in a photo.
Opposite the full-page photo, Donald Trump recognizes Carroll’s husband, John Johnson. Then he points to the ex-columnist and says, “It’s Marla.” “You say it’s Marla in this photo?” asks Carroll’s attorney. “Yes, it’s Marla, it’s my wife,” Trump replies confidently. His lawyer Alina Habba then steps in and corrects him: “No, it’s Carroll.” “It’s very vague,” defends Donald Trump, who, according to US journalists, suffers from presbyopia but does not wear glasses in this sequence.
“Not my type”
For prosecutors, this moment is particularly important because Donald Trump has repeatedly said he doesn’t know E. Jean Carroll and that she is “not (his) type.”
The former Elle columnist claims she was raped by Donald Trump in the dressing room of a major New York boutique in the mid-1990s. During the hearing, she admitted she didn’t remember the exact date of the facts she had denounces. And for lack of witnesses, his word stands against Donald Trump’s. However, her testimony was corroborated by two witnesses in whom she confided at the time. The jury also saw Access Hollywood video in which Donald Trump boasted that his celebrity status allowed him to “grab women by the pussy” with no consequences.
Two other accusers came to testify. A former journalist claims Donald Trump pinned her against a wall at his home in Mar-a-Lago and kissed her without her consent. Another woman claims he attacked her on a first-class flight, specifically touching her chest. During the 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump denied everything and assured that this woman was “not (his) first choice”.
Criminal case in the middle of the Republican primary
Barring any glitches, deliberations could begin on Monday afternoon or Tuesday. Made possible by a New York law that removes the civil statute of limitations in sexual assault cases, this trial is a test for the MeToo movement. This is the first time Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual assault or harassment by around 20 women, has had to defend himself in court. However, since this is a civil case, he does not risk jail time, but instead has to pay damages to E. Jean Carroll if he wins the case.
However, Donald Trump could return to court in Manhattan, but this time in a criminal trial, back in February or March 2024 in the Stormy Daniels case. A lawsuit for accounting fraud, which therefore risks ending up in the middle of the Republican primary. And Donald Trump’s troubles don’t end there. In Georgia, prosecutors must announce possible charges related to Trump campaign pressure during the 2020 presidential election this summer. And Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s investigations into the election, the storming of the Capitol, and Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents are also expected to be completed in the coming months. Important reminder: Even a prison sentence could not prevent Donald Trump from running on November 5, 2024.