WASHINGTON – E. Jean Carroll’s authorized workforce sought Tuesday to corroborate her declare that Donald Trump raped her in 1996, using two key witnesses: a buddy who mentioned Carroll mentioned the incident shortly after it occurred and one other lady who mentioned Trump bodily assaulted her as properly.
Witnesses pleasant to Carroll dominated the fifth day of trial within the defamation lawsuit she filed in opposition to Trump, claiming he lied concerning the assault and impugned her character within the course of.
Trump lawyer Joseph Tacopina additionally confirmed to U.S. District Decide Lewis Kaplan that his consumer is not going to testify within the trial that might finish subsequent week.
A buddy of Carroll
The day started with testimony from Lisa Birnbach, a fellow author whom Carroll advised concerning the assault simply minutes after it occurred at a New York Metropolis division retailer.
“He raped you,” Birnbach mentioned she advised Carroll on the time.
On cross-examination, Trump lawyer W. Perry Brandt cited Birnbach’s previous criticism of the previous president, suggesting that her story and Carroll’s are politically motivated.
One other alleged assault
The jury additionally heard from Jessica Leeds, a lady who mentioned Trump groped her throughout an airplane flight from Texas to New York in 1979.
Saying the assault “was like out of the blue,” Leeds testified that “it was like he had 40 zillion palms. It was like a tussling match between the 2 of us.”
Trump has continuously denied the allegations made by Leeds and Carroll.
Different witnesses
Carroll’s attorneys additionally known as Leslie Lebowitz, a psychological knowledgeable, to debate Carroll’s emotional state.
Robert Salerno, a former government with Bergdorf Goodman, testified that he doesn’t suppose there have been surveillance cameras on the ground of the shop the place Carroll mentioned the assault befell.
Trump didn’t seem (once more)
Trump will not be anticipated to testify on the trial, and he was not even within the nation on Tuesday.
The previous president is on a visit to Scotland and Eire to examine golf programs.
The plaintiff’s case
Carroll’s attorneys plan to name extra corroborating witnesses within the days forward.
They knowledgeable the choose that they plan to conclude their case mid-day Thursday.
The Related Press contributed to this report
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Trump trial: E. Jean Carroll’s attorneys search to again up rape declare