Trump Won’t Get Note Excusing Absence From Rape Suit Trial (1)

The judge overseeing E. Jean Carroll’s civil sexual-assault lawsuit against Donald Trump is barring the former president’s lawyers from telling jurors that security concerns are to blame if he doesn’t show up at a trial starting next week.

While defendants in such cases aren’t required to attend their trials, Trump is incorrect that the court and the City of New York would be overburdened by his presence, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan said in a memorandum on Thursday.

“In the meantime, there shall be no reference by counsel for Mr. Trump in the presence of the jury panel or ...