E Jean Carroll ridicules Trump’s ‘too ugly to assault’ defense: ‘Exactly his type’

Lawyers for author E Jean Carroll responded to Donald Trump’s defense that she was “too ugly” to be assaulted, saying that a photograph of the two of them together showed that Ms Carroll was “exactly his type”.

As the historic rape trial against the former president began in New York on Monday, the author’s lawyers began by dismissing the notion that it was a “he said, she said” story, saying they had enough evidence to back up their claims. affirmations.

The trial centers on allegations made by Carroll in a 2019 book excerpt that Trump sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s inside the dressing room of a New York department store.

Trump, who has denied the allegations, previously responded to the accusations by saying, “She’s not my type.”

In his opening statement, Ms. Carroll’s lawyer, Shawn Crowley, described to the jury the graphic details of the assault, stating that Mr. Trump “reached his hand into her dress, pulled down her stockings, and forced his penis inside of her”.

“‘Not my type.’ We all know what that means: she was saying that she was too ugly to assault her,” Crowley said.

He submitted a photograph of the two of them together at a party, which was embedded in his complaint.

“This will show you that Ms. Carroll was exactly your type,” Crowley told the jury.

The lawyer also responded to questions about why the author remained silent for years.

He said that two of Ms Carroll’s friends, author Lisa Birnbach and TV presenter Carol Martin, knew of the alleged assault at the time, and the former reportedly warned her that Trump was too powerful to confront.

Two other women, journalist Natasha Stoynoff and businesswoman Jessica Leeds, will also testify that Trump assaulted them.

“In his opinion, Trump was too powerful,” Crowley said, adding that Martin believed Trump had “hundreds of lawyers” who would “bury” Carroll if he ran.

Ms Carroll’s lawyers intend to call her sister, Cande Carroll, who will testify that it was not unusual for the brothers, who grew up in the shadow of World War II, to remain silent about sexual assault.

Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, criticized Carroll for the delay in filing the allegations, saying it was his responsibility to prove his case.

Trump’s defense only has two witnesses on the list, and Tacopina hinted that his “video statement” would be entered into evidence.

He also said he was not sure if Trump would testify in person.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has pressed Tacopina for clarification on whether the former president will testify, with witness testimony expected to begin Wednesday.

During jury selection, none of the potential candidates said they believed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and none said they used his Truth Social platform.