NEW YORK: Donald Trump has requested a mistrial in a civil case where the writer E. Jean Carroll is accusing him of rape and defamation, claiming that the judge made a series of unfair and prejudicial rulings against him. In an 18page letter filed on Monday in Manhattan federal court, Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina accused US district judge Lewis Kaplan of being biased against the former US president. He said the effect of Kaplan’s rulings “manifests a deeper leaning towards one party over another,” including in comments where the judge ‘openly expresses favoritism’.
Tacopina said if a mistrial were not granted, Kaplan should correct the record and give him more freedom to crossexamine Carroll. Lawyers for Carroll did not respond to requests for comment.Carroll, 79, has accused Trump, 76, of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in late 1995 or early 1996, and then undermining her credibility and career by lying about it online. Trump has consistently maintained that the rape never happened. The trial is expected to resume Monday, with Carroll facing a second day of crossexamination by Tacopina.
Tacopina said if a mistrial were not granted, Kaplan should correct the record and give him more freedom to crossexamine Carroll. Lawyers for Carroll did not respond to requests for comment.Carroll, 79, has accused Trump, 76, of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in late 1995 or early 1996, and then undermining her credibility and career by lying about it online. Trump has consistently maintained that the rape never happened. The trial is expected to resume Monday, with Carroll facing a second day of crossexamination by Tacopina.