Trump setback in rape defamation case

A US federal judge has dismissed an effort by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to defend President Donald Trump in a case brought by a woman who accuses him of raping her, reported British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Columnist E Jean Carroll accuses Trump of assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.

In a lawsuit, she argues the president defamed her when he denied her claim and said she was "totally lying," said the BBC report.

The DoJ had sought to put itself in the dock as defendant, instead of Trump.

Citing a law designed to protect federal employees from being sued over actions stemming from the performance of their duties, the department argued that he was serving in his capacity as president when he denied Carroll's allegation, the report added.

Click BBC to read the detail original report.