'Access Hollywood' tape can be used in civil case against Trump, judge rules

The notorious "Access Hollywood" tape that captured Donald Trump saying he can grope women without their consent can be used as evidence in writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation suit against the former president, a federal judge ruled Friday.

The judge also ruled that he would allow testimony from two women who say they were sexually assaulted by Trump in different decades, allegations that Trump has denied and testimony that his lawyers also sought to exclude.

Asked about the ruling, Trump lawyer Alina Habba said, "We maintain the utmost confidence that our client will be vindicated at the upcoming trial."

Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan declined to comment.