Former President Donald Trump's testimony in his libel trial against author E. Jean Carroll ended almost as quickly as it began. Mr Trump reiterated his position that Ms Carroll's claim that he had raped her was a hoax.
Asked by his lawyer Alina Habba in Manhattan court if he stood by his October 2022 testimony in Ms. Carroll's case, he replied: "100% yes."
Earlier on Thursday, Ms Carroll's lawyers played video of Mr Trump's testimony in which he called her "mentally ill" and threatened to sue her.
"It's a false accusation, it never happened, there's no way it could happen," said Mr. Trump.
Ms. Carroll, 80, is seeking at least $10 million in damages related to former President Trump's June 2019 statements in which he denied raping her in the mid-1990s in the fitting rooms of a Manhattan clothing store.
Mr Trump, 77, has accused author Carroll of making the allegation to increase attention for the sale of her biography.
Last May, another jury ordered Mr. Trump to pay Ms. Carroll $5 million for a similar denial of her allegations in October 2022. He is appealing that order./VOA