CNN
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Kevin Spacey has taken the stand as the first witness in his own defense in the sexual misconduct trial against him, brought by actor Anthony Rapp.
In a response to the first question from his attorney, Jay Barron, Spacey said Rapp’s allegations are not true.
Earlier Monday, attorneys for actor Anthony Rapp finished presenting their case against Spacey.
Rapp, best known for his role in “Star Trek: Discovery,” claims that in 1986, Spacey, then 26, invited Rapp, then 14, to his Manhattan home where he picked Rapp up, laid him down on his bed, grabbed his buttocks and pressed his groin into Rapp’s body without his consent. He is suing Spacey for battery.
In a major victory for Spacey on Monday, Judge Lewis Kaplan granted a defense request to dismiss a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Rapp’s lawyer tried to convince Kaplan to keep it in, but Kaplan said no.
Kaplan previously dismissed an assault claim in this case in June.
Rapp’s lawyer had no comment about Monday’s ruling.
Spacey’s attorneys have attempted to poke holes in Rapp’s claims by pointing to discrepancies, including dates Rapp claimed to have run into Spacey at industry events.
Before ending his time on the stand last week, Rapp’s attorney Peter Saghir asked the actor if he had been lying about his allegations against Spacey.
“I have not. It was something that happened to me that was not okay,” Rapp testified.
Update: A previous version of this story stated Judge Kaplan had not yet ruled on a motion to dismiss the claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. The story has been updated to reflect the court’s decision.
Source : Nbcnewyork
