The infamous “Access Hollywood” tape will not be presented to a New York jury tasked with considering a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump brought by author E. Jean Carroll.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, said the tapes accusing Trump of abuse and the two other women will not be presented to the jury. The revelation means Trump's testimony about the incident will likely be released sooner than expected, likely on Monday, the day before the Republican primary in New Hampshire.
Mr. Kaplan argued that he wanted the trial to remain “focused” on Mr. Carroll's accusations, rather than Mr. Trump's other alleged sex crimes.
The new trial comes after a federal jury in New York City ruled last year that Trump was not responsible for rape but was responsible for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million.
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Former President Donald Trump leaves the courtroom during his lunch break during his civil trial in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Carol, 80, said President Trump raped her It was circa 1996 at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan. According to Carroll, the two ran into each other by chance at a store where Trump was trying to buy a present for a “girl.” She said the man pushed her into her changing room and assaulted her after he asked her for advice and the two of them went shopping for her.
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After Trump repeatedly denied the allegations, Carroll sued him for defamation, claiming that Trump's denials damaged her reputation.
E. Jean Carroll will appear in court after her trial in Manhattan federal court in New York City on May 8, 2023. The lawsuit awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Carroll is expected to testify about the damage to her career and reputation caused by President Trump's public comments. She is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.
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President Trump announced his plans to testify in a social media post last week.
“I should be in New Hampshire campaigning and fighting for my country, and I'll be late today, but for now I'll be working on another politically charged case in federal court against Trump haters. “I had to spend time with a radical leftist judge in a biased witch hunt — the day after Iowa and just before the critical New Hampshire primary,” Trump wrote. “This hoax about a 'bully' judge choosing to have two trials instead of consolidating them into one is shameful and everyone knows it. The judge's former law clerk The government (?) is on the other side.”
President Trump announced his plans to testify in a social media post last week. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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Carroll's issue is one of many legal hurdles President Trump faces ahead of the 2024 election. He also faces four indictments on charges stemming from Florida, New York City, Georgia, and Washington, DC.
FOX News' Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
