CNN
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A federal choose on Friday mentioned that E. Jean Carroll, in her defamation case in opposition to former President Donald Trump, can use as proof the testimony of two different sexual assault accusers in addition to the “Entry Hollywood” tape, during which he bragged about with the ability to grope ladies.
US District Decide Lewis Kaplan rejected Trump’s request that the choose block the accusers from testifying at trial. Trump additionally requested the choose to dam the Entry Hollywood tape from being performed on the trial.
Carroll, the previous journal columnist who sued Trump for defamation after he denied raping her within the mid-Nineties, has indicated that she’s going to name Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, two ladies who got here ahead with allegations in opposition to Trump in 2016, in addition to use their videotaped depositions.
Stoynoff alleged Trump sexually assaulted her when she was reporting an article about Trump and his spouse, Melania, for Folks journal. Leeds alleged Trump groped her whereas they had been on an airplane collectively. Trump has denied each allegations, in addition to Carroll’s rape claims.
In Friday’s opinion, the choose pointed to courtroom guidelines handed by Congress in 1994 that say that that in a civil case “based mostly on a celebration’s sexual assault,” proof that the defendant dedicated another sexual assault could also be admitted in trial.
The choose mentioned that, regardless that Carroll’s case is a defamation case, she should show Trump sexually assaulted her with the intention to prevail.
“In consequence, this certainly is a case ‘based mostly on’ a sexual assault even underneath the explicit strategy,” mentioned Kaplan, who sits on the federal bench within the Southern District of New York.
The choose famous that Trump has publicly denied the accusations of the opposite ladies Carroll seeks to placed on the stand and mentioned that Trump is entitled to place these denials earlier than the jury.
Carroll can also be looking for to introduce as proof statements Trump made through the 2016 marketing campaign about his accusers. Kaplan is deferring on ruling whether or not these statements are admissible.
Trump’s legal professionals had argued that the Entry Hollywood tape was “irrelevant and extremely prejudicial.” They argued that the testimony of the 2 different accusers “will provide no related or significant perception into the central query.”
“We preserve the utmost confidence that our consumer might be vindicated on the upcoming trial,” Trump legal professional Alina Habba mentioned Friday.
A spokesperson for Carroll’s legal professionals declined to touch upon the brand new ruling.
The case is about to go to trial in April whereas awaiting a DC appeals courtroom choice that might decide whether or not the case proceeds in opposition to Trump. Carroll additionally sued Trump for battery and defamation in a separate lawsuit underneath a brand new New York legislation. The choose has not decided whether or not the trials might be mixed.
This story has been up to date with extra developments.