U.S. urges immunity for Trump from rape accuser’s lawsuit
NEW YORK, Jan 15- The U.S. government on Friday said President Donald Trump should not be forced to defend against a defamation lawsuit by the author E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her a quarter-century ago, and that it should be substituted as the defendant. In a filing with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, the Department of Justice said…
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. government on Fridaysaid President Donald Trump should not be forced to defendagainst a defamation lawsuit by the author E. Jean Carroll, whoaccused him of raping her a quarter-century ago, and that itshould be substituted as the defendant.
In a filing with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals inManhattan, the Department of Justice said Trump qualified as atypical “employee of the government” entitled to immunity underfederal law from Carroll’s claims, and was also shielded becausehe spoke about her in his capacity as president.
The law “provides a broad grant of immunity” to Trump, theJustice Department said, echoing arguments the president hasmade in other litigation.
Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, sued Trump inNovember 2019 after he denied having raped her in a Manhattandepartment store in mid-1990s. Trump said Carroll made up thestory to sell a new book, and added: “She’s not my type.”
A lawyer for Carroll had no immediate comment, having yet toreview the filing.
Trump is appealing U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan’s Oct.27 refusal to drop Trump from the case. A reversal would likelydoom Carroll’s defamation claim.
It is unclear whether the Justice Department will pursue thecase on Trump’s behalf after the Jan. 20 inauguration ofPresident-elect Joe Biden, the Democrat who defeated RepublicanTrump in the November election.
Trump also faces other legal threats after leaving office,including criminal and civil probes in New York into hisbusiness dealings.
Carroll has said she would wait until after the appeal todepose Trump, and to collect a DNA sample to compare against adress she said she wore when Trump allegedly assaulted her.
Trump has denied claims of several women who accused him ofsexual misconduct.(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by DavidGregorio)