NEW YORK: Former US president Donald Trump known as a author’s claims that he raped her at a Manhattan division retailer “essentially the most ridiculous, disgusting story,” testifying in a deposition proven in courtroom Wednesday that the allegations have been “made up” and that the assault by no means occurred.Attorneys for accuser E. Jean Carroll performed about half-hour of excerpts from the previous president’s deposition, together with his emphatic denial of the longtime recommendation columnist’s accusation that he attacked her within the mid-Nineteen Nineties in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room.”If it did occur, it could have been reported inside minutes,” Trump mentioned, contending that consumers and workers on the “very busy retailer” would’ve heard a commotion and alerted authorities.”It is essentially the most ridiculous, disgusting story. It is simply made up,” Trump mentioned within the video deposition taken in October.A number of jurors leaned ahead, watching with out expression because the video performed on particular person screens in entrance of their seats.In different developments Wednesday, Trump’s attorneys mentioned they might not name any witnesses, and the choose mentioned closing arguments would probably occur Monday earlier than the jury begins deliberations on Tuesday.Trump has not attended the trial and won’t testify, giving his deposition extra weight. Requested in regards to the case whereas travelling in Eire on Wednesday, Trump informed reporters: “I hear we’re doing very nicely in New York.”Jurors in federal courtroom in Manhattan are anticipated to listen to extra of Trump’s deposition Thursday, adopted by three extra witnesses being known as to the stand by Carroll’s attorneys.Carroll is in search of unspecified financial damages and a retraction of Trump statements that she alleges have been defamatory.Trump has denied ever figuring out Carroll, saying as soon as that “she’s not my kind” and arguing that her claims are politically motivated makes an attempt to smear his popularity and deny him the White Home.His deposition denials punctuated an emotional day in courtroom that noticed extra allegations of inappropriate behaviour with ladies and the enjoying of the notorious “Entry Hollywood” video during which Trump bragged about grabbing ladies’s genitals with out asking permission.Natasha Stoynoff, a former author for Individuals journal, testified via tears that Trump forcibly kissed her in opposition to her will whereas exhibiting her round his Mar-a-Lago property simply after Christmas in 2005 for an article about his first wedding ceremony anniversary together with his third spouse, Melania.Earlier than the trial, Trump’s attorneys have been unsuccessful in attempting to dam jurors from seeing the “Entry Hollywood” video and listening to from Stoynoff, who mentioned she informed just a few individuals in regards to the alleged incident on the time, however determined to go public after seeing the tape and Trump’s subsequent denials at a 2016 debate.”The horrifying half to me was that I frightened, as a result of I did not say something on the time, different ladies have been damage by him so I needed to remorse,” Stoynoff mentioned.Stoynoff began to cry when requested about her journey to interview the Trumps in Palm Seashore, Florida, reaching for tissues and pausing between inquiries to pat her eyes. Stoynoff testified that Trump drew her away from workers and a pictures crew with a ruse of wanting to point out her a “actually nice room” on the property, earlier than cornering her and kissing her.Stoynoff, a Canadian who adopted an outdated household identify for her writing profession, recalled the door shutting behind her and that Trump quickly “had his palms on my shoulders, pushed me in opposition to the wall and began kissing me.” The encounter lasted a number of minutes, mentioned Stoynoff, whose actual identify is Nancy Stevens.”I attempted to push him away,” Stoynoff mentioned, explaining how Trump got here at her once more and the way she once more tried shoving him away. She was “so shocked and flustered” she was unable to talk and did not scream, she mentioned.”No phrases got here out of me,” Stoynoff informed jurors.Trump confirmed no indicators of stopping, however immediately pulled away when a butler got here into the room to report that Melania was prepared for the subsequent part of the interview, Stoynoff mentioned.As they walked to a patio space, Stoynoff mentioned, Trump informed her “you understand we will have an affair,” and reminded her that his second spouse, Marla Maples, had as soon as bragged to a tabloid that intercourse with Trump was one of the best she ever had.Trump has denied that he ever tried to kiss Stoynoff. Trump’s lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, urged she had no relevance to Carroll’s case and ended his cross-examination after asking her a single query: Was she concerned in any litigation in opposition to Trump? She is not.Stoynoff’s testimony got here a day after one other lady, former stockbroker Jessica Leeds, testified that Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to place his hand up her skirt after they have been seated subsequent to one another on a late-Seventies airline flight.Carroll saved her claims in opposition to Trump secret for 17 years, telling simply two shut mates earlier than going public with the allegations in a 2019 memoir. Within the ebook, she described how a generally flirtatious likelihood encounter with Trump on the division retailer in spring 1996 ended with violence when Trump cornered her in a dressing room after they challenged one another to strive on a bit of lingerie.Trump’s attorneys attacked Carroll’s credibility via exhaustive cross-examination, questioning why she did not scream out for assist throughout the alleged assault and why she by no means went to police.A psychologist testifying on Carroll’s behalf mentioned Wednesday that it’s normal for rape victims to fall silent and blame themselves.
