Trump smacked down by judge for 'utterly frivolous' longshot bid in E. Jean Carroll case
A federal judge blasted former President Donald Trump for an "utterly frivolous" motion in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case against him.
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled against Trump's motion to exclude a deposition he gave after Carroll said he raped her. Trump has claimed that Carroll was not his "type."
"The Court overrules Mr. Trump's broad objection under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 32 to the use of any portion of his deposition transcript," Kaplan wrote in the 2-page ruling on Thursday. "His contention that its use would be improper because he is listed as a possible witness is utterly frivolous."
"Rule 32(a)(3) provides that an 'adverse party may use for any purpose the deposition of a party,' whether they are available to testify live or not," the judge noted. "Thus, Ms. Carroll will be permitted to play her otherwise admissible deposition designations at trial even were Mr. Trump to testify."
ALSO READ: Republican congressman violates federal law with botched cryptocurrency disclosures
Kaplan also ruled in favor of Carroll after Trump attempted to introduce already rejected evidence.
"With respect to Ms. Carroll's objections to Mr. Trump's counter-designations, the Court again has sustained those objections," he explained.
Kaplan is expected to decide on another Trump motion requesting a ruling stating he did not rape Carroll. The former president has been found liable for sexually abusing the writer. And Kaplan has previously found that Carroll's rape claim was "substantially true."
In a social media tirade on Thursday, Trump lashed out at Carroll with repeated postings. It was unclear if Trump's social media activity was related to Kaplan's ruling.