Trump rebuked by judge over jury request in New York civil rape trial
GuardianNov 30, 2022
The Facts
The civil trial over allegations that former Pres. Donald Trump raped former Elle Magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll at the NYC Bergdorf Goodman store in the 1990s began in New York on Tuesday.
Carroll's attorney, Shawn Crowley, opened proceedings by describing her claim that Trump locked her inside a changing room and forced her into sexual intercourse as she resisted. Her claims will be supported by the testimony of two friends, whom she told shortly after the alleged assault, as well as two former Bergdorf employees.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The extent of Trump's fear over this lawsuit is evident in the intimidation tactics he's used against Carroll multiple times throughout the controversy. His repeated disregard for trial rules has included defaming Carroll and her attorneys as "political operatives," as well as raising the possibility of using DNA evidence, which the judge has said might suggest he's "tampering" with the legal process. Trump is digging himself into a hole with the public and the judicial system.
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump has the right to an impartial trial, but the ongoing politically charged media frenzy makes the jury ripe for prejudice — an environment Democrats are seemingly willing to exploit in order to further their persecution of Trump. This is why Tacopina's request for a delay in the trial was completely legitimate and should have been considered seriously. A Trump-hating New York jury could fall for any story told about him given the way society and the media portray the former president.
