Donald Trump goes to trial, accused of rape

E. Jean Carroll, a writer, is suing Donald Trump for raping her in a department shop dressing room in the mid-1990s. The trial begins on Tuesday.

The former Elle magazine advice columnist is also suing Trump for defamation in Manhattan federal court, where jury selection will begin.

Trump, 76, denies raping Carroll, 79. He termed her assertion a “hoax” and “complete Scam” on Truth Social in October 2022. He said she fabricated up the meeting to promote her memoir and was “not my type!”

Trump need not attend the trial. Security and transportation issues may prevent his appearance, according to his lawyers. Trump will not testify for Carroll’s lawyers.

Trump’s cross-examination would undoubtedly be aggressive. Since Carroll officially accused Trump of rape in 2019, Trump has attacked Carroll personally. He claims she’s insane.

To protect jurors from Trump supporters, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan is keeping them anonymous from the public and lawyers.

Trials last one to two weeks.

Trump, the Republican frontrunner for 2024, is being sued and investigated.

These include Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s porn star hush money allegations.

A three-minute walk from Tuesday’s hearing, Trump pled not guilty to those allegations on April 4.

New York Attorney General Letitia James charged the former president with civil fraud in his namesake corporation.

Trump faces criminal investigations into his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Georgia’s 2020 presidential race, and sensitive government materials found at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump denies all charges.

Other accusers may testify.
In late 1995 or early 1996, Carroll met Trump at Bergdorf Goodman.

She asked Trump, who called her “that advice lady,” for help buying a gift for another woman.

Trump “maneuvered” Carroll into a dressing room, slammed the door, forced her against a wall, pulled down her tights, and penetrated her. She broke free after two to three minutes.

Trump’s lawyers may point on Carroll’s silence and failure to call the police.

They may also question her inability to recall the date or month of the attack.

Carroll said #MeToo inspired her to speak out.

Author Lisa Birnbach and former TV anchor Carol Martin, whom she confided in after the incident, will testify.

Trump denies sexual misconduct by two other women on Carroll’s witness list.

Carroll’s lawyers could use their testimony to prove Trump mistreated women.

They’ll also show jurors Trump’s 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape with graphic, profane statements about women.

After Trump dismissed her rape accusation in June 2019, Carroll sued for defamation. Kaplan has that case.