Trump news – live: Trump misses last chance to testify in E Jean Carroll trial as closing arguments begin

Donald Trump has missed his last chance to testify in the civil rape trial brought by magazine columnist E Jean Carroll. The former president had been given until 5pm ET on Sunday by US District Judge Lewis A Kaplan to file a request to testify in the case. The deadline came and went without Mr Trump taking up the opportunity. Closing arguments are set to begin in Manhattan on Monday ahead of the jury deciding whether or not they will find Mr Trump did rape Ms Carroll in a dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s – and whether or not they find Mr Trump then defamed Ms Carroll in the aftermath. Attorneys for both sides rested their cases on Thursday, following almost two weeks of dramatic courtroom testimony. Ms Carroll gave harrowing testimony about the alleged rape and jurors also heard from two other women who have accused the former president of sexual assault. Mr Trump’s video deposition was also played, in which he denied raping Ms Carroll, calling it the “most ridiculous, disgusting story”. Read More Who is Natasha Stoynoff? The journalist whose testimony could help bring down Trump Biden trails Trump in brutal new poll after 2024 kickoff Trump rejects last chance to testify at New York civil trial Biden defends son Hunter as Justice Department weighs seeking charges: ‘My son has done nothing wrong’ Biden laughs off 2024 age concerns: ‘My career of 280 years’