One of the witnesses testifying in a rape lawsuit against former president Donald Trump this week told the court that the former President pushed her against a wall in Mar-a-Lago and started kissing her.
Trump is facing a defamation and rape case brought by E. Jean Carroll, who alleges that Trump raped her inside a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s.
A former People magazine writer, Natasha Stoynoff, testified in court that Trump had pushed her against a wall and without invitation kissed her during her visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005.
Stoynoff, assigned to write an article on Donald and Melania Trump’s first wedding anniversary, described how Trump led her to a room, closed the door behind her, and began kissing her. Stoynoff testified that she tried to push him away, but he persisted. Her harrowing encounter ended when a butler entered the room.
Stoynoff explained that she felt ashamed and humiliated but did not report the incident to her bosses at People magazine to avoid causing trouble. She broke her silence after hearing the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump boasted about grabbing and kissing women without their consent.
Another woman, Jessica Leeds, also testified that Trump had groped her during a flight in 1979, demonstrating a pattern of behavior. Trump has denied all allegations against him.
During the trial, Carroll’s sister, Cande Carroll, testified that she learned about the alleged rape in 2019 when she read an excerpt from her sister’s book. Cande Carroll acknowledged that she and her sister did not typically discuss such matters.
Psychologist Dr. Leslie Lebowitz testified that Carroll’s behavior after the alleged assault, such as continuing to shop at Bergdorf Goodman and watching Trump’s show “The Apprentice,” did not discredit her claim. Dr. Lebowitz stated that Carroll exhibited signs of trauma, including moments of distress during her evaluation.
The trial is ongoing, and the jury is considering Carroll’s defamation and battery claims, as well as potential monetary damages. It is Carroll’s second lawsuit against Trump regarding her rape allegation. The previous case had been dismissed.
