Trump was not allowed to enter exculpatory evidence IIRC
“Trump was not allowed to enter exculpatory evidence IIRC”
He was allowed to enter exculpatory evidence at the first trial. The best such evidence would have been his own sworn testimony that this incident never happened.
Unfortunately, on advice of his then attorney, Trump didn’t testify at all. The jury heard only Carroll’s side so it found in her favor.
At the second trial, the judge followed the principle that a jury verdict against a party is binding on that party in later cases. Courts don’t like to re-litigate issues, so the defense strategic mistake at the first trial couldn’t be corrected.