Closing arguments begin in E. Jean Carroll civil rape trial against Donald Trump

By Lauren del Valle, CNN
Updated 12:31 PM EDT, Mon May 8, 2023


New York
CNN
—
The attorney for E. Jean Carroll told a federal jury in New York on Monday that no one is above the law, as closing arguments began in the civil battery and defamation trial against Donald Trump.

“In this country even the most powerful person can be held accountable in court,” said attorney Roberta Kaplan. “No one, not even a former president is above the law.”

Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleges Trump raped her in the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the spring of 1996 and then defamed her when he denied her claim, said she wasn’t his type and suggested she made up the story to boost sales of her book. Trump has denied all wrongdoing.

Attorneys for Carroll and Trump rested their respective cases last Thursday. Carroll’s legal team put on 11 witnesses in her case including the writer herself over seven trial days. Trump did not put on a defense and ultimately opted not to testify, as is his right.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/politics/trump-carroll-closing-arguments/index.html