Former President Donald Trump’s legal team is pushing for a mistrial in the civil suit filed against him by E. Jean Carroll, claiming that the court has made “unfair and prejudicial rulings” throughout the proceedings.
The 79-year-old Carroll filed a civil suit against Trump in 2019, accusing him of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City in the 1990s. The former Elle magazine columnist is also suing for battery and defamation, claiming Trump defamed her when he denied the allegations.
Trump’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, filed a letter in Manhattan federal court on Monday, arguing that a mistrial should be granted “based upon pervasive unfair and prejudicial rulings by the Court.” In the 18-page letter, Tacopina cites a number of alleged reasons why a mistrial should take place, including the court’s mischaracterization of evidence in Carroll’s favor, and the court’s sustaining of improper objections from the plaintiff’s team.
In addition, Tacopina argues that if a mistrial is not granted, the court should correct the record and allow Trump’s team more latitude to cross-examine Carroll and other plaintiff witnesses.
The trial began last week with jury selection, and Carroll opened her testimony by saying, “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back.”
The civil suit is just one of the many legal battles that Trump is currently facing. Last month, he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by the Manhattan district attorney for his alleged role in a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s legal team is now hoping that the court will grant a mistrial in the civil suit, allowing them to start the proceedings over again with the potential for a different outcome. However, it remains to be seen whether the court will heed their request and grant a mistrial.
In the meantime, the proceedings will continue, and it will be interesting to see how the court handles the situation. This case could have major implications for Trump’s future legal battles, so it’s definitely one to keep an eye on as it progresses.