NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s legal battle with writer E. Jean Carroll may face further complications after he reportedly provided her lawyers with new evidence. The development adds fuel to the publicized case concerning Carroll’s allegations of sexual assault by the president. Legal experts warn that this latest move by Trump could jeopardize the confidentiality of any communications he has had with his former personal lawyers.
Carroll, a renowned advice columnist, claimed in a book excerpt published last year that Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room in the mid-1990s. In response, Trump denied the allegations, stating that Carroll was “not his type” and never met her. He also asserted that he couldn’t have assaulted her because he doesn’t know her.
However, court documents reveal that Trump handed over two small notepads to Carroll’s lawyers. These notebooks apparently contain a handwritten reference to Carroll as well as the President’s address and phone number at the time of the alleged incident. The significance of these notepads remains unclear, but legal experts believe they could impact the ongoing litigation in several ways.
The new development raises concerns about attorney-client privilege. If these notepads were originally in the possession of Trump’s personal attorneys, then conversations related to them might be covered by attorney-client privilege. However, by providing the notepads to Carroll’s lawyers, Trump could potentially waive this privilege, making the contents of the notepads admissible as evidence in court.
Furthermore, this new information could significantly impact the defamation lawsuit filed by Carroll against Trump. The President’s legal team argued that his denials of the sexual assault allegations were made as part of his official duties and therefore he is immune from defamation suits. However, if the notepads confirm that Trump did know Carroll and had information about her, it may undermine his claim of official duty.
Legal analysts also speculate that Trump’s decision to hand over the notepads could indicate a strategic move. By providing this evidence, Trump may be attempting to counter Carroll’s request for his DNA sample as part of the ongoing lawsuit. If it can be established that Trump had no previous relationship with Carroll, it could weaken her case and make the DNA request irrelevant.
The outcome of this latest development remains uncertain, but it is clear that Trump’s decision to provide Carroll’s lawyers with new evidence has potential consequences for the legal battle between the two parties. As the litigation continues, experts and the public will closely watch how these new facts impact the course of the case.