A civil trial over rape allegations against Donald Trump has begun in the absence of the former US president. As expected, the Republican did not travel to New York on Tuesday at the start of the procedure. According to media reports, after the twelve jurors were first elected on the first day of the hearing, opening arguments in the case began.
American author Jean Carroll accuses Trump of raping her in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. The real estate entrepreneur, who was not yet active as a politician at the time, rejects the accusation. The charges are criminally time-barred, but under civil law, Carroll was still open to legal remedies.
It is estimated that the process could take a week. Trump’s attorney, Joseph Tacopina, said the former president would love to come to New York, but wanted to spare the city the huge logistical effort that would entail traveling to the East Coast metropolis and Manhattan’s Central District.
Carroll, now 79, is seeking damages from Trump. She had made the rape allegation public in 2019 in a book excerpt. Trump responded at the time, among other things, by noting that Carroll was not his type. He also accused her of just wanting to boost sales of her book. The writer then sued Trump – initially for defamation for portraying her as a liar. A new law in New York recently made it possible to add the charge of bodily harm.
The mood in the US over Trump’s legal prosecution is heated. The 76-year-old is being investigated for a number of possible crimes. Trump himself describes the actions of law enforcement agencies against him as a politically motivated “witch hunt”. He wants the Republicans to nominate him for the 2024 presidential election.
In early April, Trump became the first former US president to face criminal charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused him of increasing his chances in the 2016 presidential election by paying hush money to two women, violating election laws. (aeg/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
