In a recent development surrounding the rape defamation trial of former president Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, firmly denied allegations of being mentored by the judge overseeing the case. Kaplan asserted that there is "no basis" to dismiss the $83.3 million jury verdict in Carroll's favor. Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, had raised false claims of a mentor-mentee relationship between Kaplan and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, prompting a strong response from Carroll's legal representative.

The accusations of mentorship were centered around Kaplan and Judge Kaplan both working at the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss more than three decades ago. However, Kaplan clarified in a letter to the judge that their overlap at the firm was less than two years, and she does not recall ever interacting with Judge Kaplan during that time. She joined the firm in October 1992, while Judge Kaplan left in August 1994 upon his confirmation as a judge.

Moreover, Kaplan informed the judge in her letter that she reserved the right to seek sanctions against Habba for making "false and vexatious claims." However, Habba, in her reply, denied making any false claims, stating that she simply questioned the existence of a mentor-mentee relationship. She also hinted at potential issues concerning the judge's conduct, including biased hostility towards defense counsel, which she plans to raise in post-trial motions and on appeal.

Habba raised these claims in a letter to the judge, three days after a Manhattan federal court jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages for Trump's defamatory statements in 2019, where he denied her allegations of rape in the mid-1990s. This latest civil judgment came after another trial where Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages for defamatory statements made by Trump in 2022. In both trials, Kaplan represented Carroll, while Judge Kaplan presided over the cases.

Habba's letter suggested that any undisclosed conflict or potential conflict between Carroll's lawyer and the judge could be relevant to Trump's upcoming motion to seek a new trial or significantly reduce the damages awarded. However, Kaplan dismissed these concerns, stating that the claims were baseless, and she had no recollection of any interaction with the judge during her time at Paul, Weiss.

Kaplan also emphasized that the fact that both she and the judge had worked at the law firm was already a matter of public record before the trial. She concluded her response by stating, "A jury of Donald Trump's peers has now twice found him liable for sexual assault, defamation, and $88 million in compensatory and punitive damages. There is no basis to set either verdict aside."

Trump, who is currently a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, plans to appeal both trial verdicts. As the legal battle continues, the focus now shifts to post-trial motions and the possibility of an appeal that could challenge Carroll's victories in the defamation cases against the former president.