Trumps deposition in the Carroll case clearly did him no favors

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It’s hard to predict what Donald Trump might say when he sits down for a deposition. In October 2021, for example, the former president asserted under oath that people could be killed by protesters throwing highly dangerous fruit.

Nearly a year later, the Republican sat down for another deposition in a different kind of case, and the result wasn’t nearly as exciting. The Washington Post reported:

Donald Trump used a sworn deposition in a lawsuit brought by his sexual assault accuser E. Jean Carroll to continue calling her a liar and to say she is mentally ill in denial that she is sexual who was attacked even though she was falsely claimed to have said in a CNN interview that Carroll was happy she was raped.

For those who may need a refresher on the underlying controversy, Carroll spent years as a prominent writer, media figure, and advice columnist, including hosting a show on Americas Talking, which later became MSNBC ( my employer). In June 2020, she also joined a long list of women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct.

Carroll described an alleged encounter at a New York department store in the mid-1990s, which the writer described as a violent sexual assault perpetrated by the future president. While Carrolls claim is difficult to prove or disprove, the writer said he confided in two friends shortly after the alleged incident, telling them what he said happened. Soon, those friends came forward with on-the-record accounts. Carroll also requested DNA testing on the clothing he claims he was wearing in the alleged incident.

The former president denied the claim, arguing, among other things, that Carroll was a liar who was not his type. He eventually sued Trump for defamation, and though the Republican tried to walk away from it, he had to answer questions under oath last fall as part of the lawsuit.

It wasn’t until Friday that the public learned what he said after a federal judge unsealed portions of the transcript of Trumps deposition.

Not surprisingly, the Republican repeated his denials, calling the allegations a hoax, and derided his accuser as a workaholic and a mentally ill person.

But he also focused on an interview Carroll did with CNN in 2019, in which he said he avoided using the word rape to describe the alleged insult because, Carroll said, the word had too many sexual connotations and was a fantasy. for many.

I think most people think rape is sexy, she said at the time, adding that she instead thinks of the alleged assault involving Trump as a fight. As the Posts report added, Trump cited the interview as telling Carrolls’ attorney that the plaintiff was fond of sexual assault.

He really indicated that he loved her. okay? Trump said at the deposition. In fact, I think she said it is sexy, right? It’s very sexy to be raped. [Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan] then asked: So, sir, I just want to confirm: Its your testimony that E. Jean Carroll said that she loved being sexually assaulted by you? And Trump replied: Well, based on his interview with Anderson Cooper, I believe that’s what happened.

In both proceedings, the former president was asked if he had ever touched a woman’s private parts without her consent. Trumps lawyer objected, though the Republican responded, Well, I’ll tell you no, but you might have some people like your client who are lying.

The case is expected to go to trial in April. Watch this space.

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