Landmark Defamation Trial: Trump’s ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape and Accusers Excluded from New York Jury

New York City, NY – A lawyer representing a writer who has accused former President Donald Trump of sexual abuse in the 1990s and subsequent defamation in 2019 has stated that the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape and the testimonies of two other women will not be presented to a New York jury during the ongoing defamation trial. The attorney, Roberta Kaplan, made the announcement on Saturday, revealing that this decision could potentially result in Trump testifying as early as Monday in Manhattan federal court. This timing aligns with the upcoming New Hampshire primary.

The trial revolves around the question of whether Trump should pay more than the $5 million previously awarded to the writer, E. Jean Carroll. A previous jury determined that while Trump did sexually abuse Carroll in a New York luxury department store dressing room in 1996, he did not rape her. However, the jury also concluded that he defamed her in October 2022. Trump has made intermittent appearances at the ongoing trial, except for Thursday, when he attended his mother-in-law’s funeral in Florida.

Kaplan, in a letter to the judge, explained that she chose not to present the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape to the jury in order to maintain focus on the specific issues at hand. She also revealed that two other accusers, Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, would not be called to testify. Both women had given testimonies during the previous trial. Leeds, a former stockbroker, had asserted that Trump had forcibly groped her on an airline flight in the 1970s. Stoynoff, a writer, claimed that Trump forcefully kissed her during a 2005 interview.

Although Trump’s lawyers argued that he should be allowed to testify regarding the tape and the allegations made by Stoynoff and Leeds, the judge in the case instructed the jury to accept the previous trial’s findings. As a result, the evidence presented to the current jury primarily focuses on the harm caused to Carroll by Trump’s continuous denial and defamation. At 77 years old, Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s claims, stating that they are fabricated to promote her memoir and for political reasons.

The judge has imposed severe limitations on Trump’s testimony, aiming to prevent him from discussing numerous false claims made against him. However, Kaplan did confirm that statements made by Trump since Carroll finished testifying on Thursday will be presented to the jury, as they are deemed relevant to the issue of punitive damages. These statements serve to illustrate Trump’s continued defamation campaign against Carroll, despite the settled liability determined by the previous trial.

As of yet, no comment has been received from Trump’s legal representation regarding Kaplan’s letter. The trial is expected to continue, with potential implications for Trump’s presidential aspirations and Carroll’s pursuit of justice.