NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump’s lawyer is seeking a one-month delay in the trial of a columnist’s claim that Trump raped her in a store dressing room in the 1990s, arguing that his client’s right to a fair trial depends on a “cooling off” period after the indictment and arraignment of the former president.
The trial is set for April 25. In a letter Tuesday to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, lawyer Joseph Tacopina cited the “new flood of prejudicial media coverage” surrounding Trump’s arrest and appeared to the court in arguing for a delay. The former president was indicted on March 30 on 34 felony charges related to allegations that he paid money to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Kaplan’s previous civil case was brought against Trump in November by E. Jean Carroll, a columnist who said the wealthy real estate developer raped her in early 1996 after a chance meeting at the Bergdorf Goodman department store.
Trump has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations. Jurors will be asked to decide whether rape occurred and whether Trump defamed Carroll with his comments.
A temporary state law that took effect last year allows adult rape victims to sue their abusers, even if the assault happened decades ago.
Tacopina’s letter requesting a court delay in Carroll’s civil suit followed Kaplan’s order Monday, directing the parties in the case to notify by April 20 whether they will participate in the Manhattan federal court hearing. Carroll’s lawyer had said he would attend; Trump’s attorney has not responded to a request for comment on Kaplan’s order.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said a response to the adjournment request will be filed in a letter to the judge. Lawyers and judges are not related.