Joe Tacopina: E. Jean Carroll twisted people’s feelings of ‘hate’ toward Trump
Rachel Schilke
Video Embed
Joe Tacopina, defense attorney for former President Donald Trump, told the jury in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll that she was “abusing” the judicial system by using people’s hatred for the former president to prove her case.
Tacopina’s comments come as the prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments on Monday. Carroll, a former Elle columnist, sued Trump for defamation and civil battery after she accused him of raping her in a dressing room at a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s. He denied the accusations and called them a “hoax” and Carroll a “liar.”
TRUMP MISSES FINAL DEADLINE TO TESTIFY IN E. JEAN CARROLL TRIAL
During the closing arguments, Tacopina noted that people have “passionate” feelings about Trump.
“But the court is not the place to express it — that’s for the ballot box,” Tacopina said. “No one’s below the law. If you apply the law to the facts, justice will be served quickly. Quickly.”
Tacopina added that Trump “apologized” for the “crude” comments made in the Access Hollywood tape during the 2016 campaign and that Carroll and her team were capitalizing on them to make a case.
“They are using the art of distraction. They are trying to take parts of Donald Trump you hate and stretch them over her story,” Tacopina said. “If this weren’t about Trump, we wouldn’t be here today. No way.”
Tacopina accused Carroll of “abusing the system” and exploiting “real” rape victims. Carroll sued the former president for unspecified damages that could likely result in millions of dollars should the jury find Trump guilty.
“She brought a case for money and victimized real rape victims, exploiting their pain and suffering. We cannot let her profit from her abuse of this process. I’m going to pull it all together,” Tacopina said.
He also focused on the fact that the alleged rape occurred on an unknown date, saying Trump cannot call any witnesses as there is no logical person to ask to testify, given the date was unknown. During the trial, Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s lawyer, stated multiple times why the date was unknown but indicated it happened sometime in the spring, given the clothes she was wearing and the time of day she left the store.
“The whole story is an unbelievable work of fiction,” Tacopina said.
Tacopina worked through various pieces of evidence already seen or heard by the jury, including footage from Trump’s deposition that he gave in October. The footage was released on May 5 after Inner City Press wrote a letter to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan asking for the deposition and other evidence to be available to the public.
Trump’s attorney also sought to discredit the claim of Jessica Leeds, 81, who said Trump molested her during a commercial flight in the 1970s. He asked the court why Leeds only came forward when Trump announced he was running for president.
“It’s ridiculous,” Tacopina said.
If Trump is found guilty, he will become the first president held liable for sexual assault in United States history. Only one juror out of nine would have to disagree to avoid finding Trump guilty.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
During the prosecution’s closing arguments, Roberta Kaplan reminded the jury that no one, not even a former president, is above the law. She also rebutted the defense’s claim that there is a “coordinated conspiracy” against Trump. She blasted Tacopina for asking her client why she didn’t scream for help when Trump was allegedly raping her.
“Donald Trump wants and needs you to disregard all the evidence that you heard in this case. … Does that make any sense here at all?” Roberta Kaplan asked.