New York: Former US President Donald Trump will not challenge the claims of writer E. Jean Carroll in the civil trial that he raped her in 1990s and defamed her later, Reuters reported.
Trump allowed to pass the Sunday deadline, given to him by the court to testify, without initiating in moving the court.
Joseph Tacopina, attorney for Trump, told the court on Thursday that the former president opted not to testify in the trial, waiving his right to do so, hoping that judges will assume Carroll failed to make a ‘ persuasive case’.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Thursday conveyed to Trump through Tacopina that he had until Sunday at 5 p.m. to tell the court if he intended to testify.
The 79-year-old former Elle magazine advice columnist alleged in her lawsuit Trump had raped her in a dressing room at a department store in Manhattan in 1995-1996. She accused him of defaming her later by denying it happened.
Trump countered Carroll saying she made up the allegation to spike the sales of her 2019 memoir.
In video released on Wednesday Trump was heard saying that ‘It's the most ridiculous, disgusting story’.
Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for Republican presidential nomination, was president from 2017 to 2021.