Lawyers representing former President Trump in a defamation lawsuit filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll said in a court filing Sunday that they pushed aside “unprecedented” barriers proposed by Carroll's team. He argued that Trump should be allowed to testify at this week's trial. .
Trump's lawyer Alina Haba outlined several issues with Carroll's defense team's request, including “in case President Trump decides to testify in a future trial. It includes proposals for unprecedented hurdles and unsubstantiated 'precautionary measures and treatment instructions.'
“This letter, the second letter motion filed by the plaintiffs in the two days leading up to trial, seeks to organize President Trump's defense and prevent his legal team from preparing for the upcoming trial. “This is nothing but another desperate attempt to do so,” Haba wrote.
Mr. Haba pushed the idea that Mr. Trump would have nothing to contribute to his testimony in Mr. Carroll's lawsuit, where he is seeking $10 million in damages for defamation by the former president. The trial will determine whether Trump is liable to pay damages after a jury found him responsible for sexual assault last year.
Haba asked Trump about his response to Carroll's story in New York magazine, positive questions from reporters who spread denials, and whether he was acting with hatred or malice when he answered them. He argued that he should be allowed to testify. Haba also said that President Trump should be allowed to testify about “the circumstances of Carroll's comments related to his comments in ongoing interviews and publicity.”
Haba also said Trump “understands that this is being established on the record and under oath in open court without a jury present (solely) for the purposes of this trial.” He also objected to the request that it be necessary to state that He said he sexually assaulted Ms. Carroll, made false statements with actual malice, and lied about fabricating her account and impugning her motives. ”
Haba said Trump is “well aware of the court's decision” on the issue but still maintains his innocence.
Haba said other proposals, such as requiring evidence of the supporting testimony Trump plans to share, are “equally outlandish and highly biased.” Haba also pushed back against requests to “advise Mr. Trump regarding the conclusions of the court's collateral estoppel ruling and the meaning of his testimony” and to inform Mr. Trump of the consequences of not following the court's rules. did.
“This is unnecessary and should not be done in front of a jury, because issuing this warning in front of a jury would certainly prejudice President Trump and his attorneys,” Haba said. Stated.
“Given the courts' previous decisions in this case, President Trump's ability to defend himself in court is already severely limited. Preventing him completely would be a clear injustice and would violate his constitutional rights.” This would be a clear violation of their rights.”
On Saturday, Carroll's team said Trump's lawyers did not falsely state that the former president needed to delay the trial in connection with the $10 million in defamation damages he is seeking. He suggested.
In the letter, Haba said it was inappropriate for Carroll's team to suggest that Trump would be unable to provide valuable testimony. “This is testimony that should not have been shared by the plaintiff.”
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