| In Kevin
Spacey Trial Rapp Is Asked About His
Approach to Sex by Keller Then Court
Closure
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon Stand-up
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
-
Video
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Oct 12 – Anthony Rapp's
lawsuit against Kevin Spacey
was removed to Federal court
in November 2020, and an
anonymous co-plaintiff C.D.
was added.
Spacey wanted to
make C.D.'s name public, to
order to conduct discovery, he
says. C.D.'s lawyers
opposed it, letter on Patreon
here.
On May 26, 2022
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan held a
hearing, with Spacey
testifying, on Rapp's motion
to remand the case. Judge
Kaplan at the end said it is
his present intention to deny
the motion to remand, and that
the trial will start in
October. Inner City Press
attended then tweeted here.
[Then video
here]
On October
6, 2022, the
trail began. On the
way in video I,
II; afterward
Space
and Vlog.
Here's
the live tweeted thread
by Inner City
Press of the openings,
here
On
October 7, Day
2, with
a stated
victim of the
Public Theater
of Joe Papp, a
Rapp friend
who was told,
and the
beginning
(direct) of Rapp
himself. Thread here.
On
October 11,
Day 3, Rapp
was on the
stand all day,
first on
direct, then
under cross
examination,
thread here.
On
October 12,
Day 4, Rapp
was cross
examined to
the end - then
under Rule
412, a
courtroom
closure.
Thread here:
OK -
Kevin Spacey
trial has just
resumed, with
Anthony Rapp
under cross
examination by
Spacey's
lawyer
Jennifer
Keller. Before
jury enters,
Judge Kaplan
says Keller
should asked
Rapp, Did you
say in
substance, and
that Rapp (who
he calls a
smart young
man - at 50 -
has the job of
answering
questions. It
begins.
Keller:
You were
comfortable
with your
therapist,
yes? Rapp:
Yes. Keller:
You are
claiming that
the incident
that you say
happened with
Mr. Spacey has
permeated
relationships
throughout
your life,
correct?
Rapp:
Yes. Keller:
But you didn't
tell your
doctor your
Kevin Spacey
story, did
you? Rapp: I
did not.
Keller:
You told
dozens of
people your
Kevin Spacey
story before
ever telling
your therapist
of many
decades, true?
Rapp: Yes.
Keller: You
told her
upsetting
details about
your private
life, right?
About
attacking your
boyfriend,
yes? Rapp:
Yes.
Keller:
You told her
about other
attacks on
you, including
being
physically
attacked,
right? Rapp: I
may have.
Keller: Your
book Without
You anonymized
some of your
sexual
partners,
right? Rapp:
Yes. Keller:
But not an
anonymous
actor jumping
on you? Rapp:
No.
Keller:
Isn't Buzzfeed
known for
quizzes about
celebrities
and food?
Rapp:
There's also
News. Keller:
And didn't Mr.
Vary tell you,
We can't place
Mr. Spacey at
the Tony's?
"We'll say you
saw him at an
industry
event." Rapp:
That's what he
said.
Keller:
Is that a
reporter of
integrity?
Rapp: To some
degree. May I
explain?
Judge: Your
lawyer will
have an
opportunity.
Answer these
questions.
Keller:
You complained
to Mr. Vary
that you
weren't
nominated, and
he was
outraged for
you? Rapp: I
don't recall
this
Keller:
Your profile
has been
raised by
making these
claims, right?
Rapp: I
don't know how
to measure
that. Keller:
Well, Adam
Rapp was not a
household
name, and
probably still
isn't. Rapp:
Adam Rapp is
my brother.
Keller: I
haven't had my
3d cup of
coffee yet
Keller:
You accused
Yul Brenner of
hitting you in
the stomach -
and made the
accusation
after he died,
right? Rapp: I
do not
remember this
article.
Keller: Does
this REfresh
your memory?
Rapp: No.
Keller: You
said, He
punched me and
said Get out
of my way.
Keller:
And did you
tell your Yul
Brenner story
every time he
was up for an
award? Moving
this article
as an exhibit.
Judge Kaplan:
You should
have these
ready, with a
copy for me.
I've been
doing this for
28 years.
Keller: May I
have a moment?
Judge: Yes.
Keller:
Haven't you
said that your
husband abused
you? Rapp:
Once he pushed
me down and I
fell on my
butt.
Keller:
And another
time he
slapped you
and hit you in
the shoulder,
yes? Rapp: I
believe so.
Judge: Did you
say that?
Rapp: In
substance,
yes.
Keller:
You are
claiming that
this incident
impacted your
approach to
sex, yes?
Rapp: Yes.
Keller: Aren't
pubescent
males
generally
aware of sex?
(Laughs)
C'mon, Mr.
Rapp. Rapp's
lawyer:
Objection.
Judge:
Overruled. You
listen
carefully as
it's read
back.
Now
re-direct.
Rapp's lawyer:
What was the
relationship
between the
Harvey
Weinstein
op-ed and what
you told Vary?
Rapp: I was at
the early
stage, I still
had to talk
with Ken and
my producers.
Then I saw the
piece and I
decided to
move forward.
Rapp's
lawyer: What
did Mr.
Barrowman say?
Rapp: That
Spacey was
touching his
leg under the
table all
night. He said
it was
unwanted.
Rapp's lawyer:
Why don't you
remember who
else was at
Spacey's
party? Rapp:
Because it's
the bedroom
that's seared
on my memory
Rapp's
lawyer: You
were asked
about American
Beauty, what
was difficult?
Rapp: Seeing
him in the
film pursuing
sexual
relations with
a teenage
girl.
Judge Kaplan
calls a break,
asks how much
more
re-direct. 10
minutes,
apparently.
Thread will
continue.
Rapp's
lawyer:
Anthony, why
did you come
forward? Rapp:
Because I know
that Kevin
Spacey has
abused others,
too. Judge
Kaplan: Strike
that answer.
Rapp's lawyer:
May we be
heard?
[Whispered
sidebar
ensues; Rapp
is still on
the stand]
Now
re-cross.
Keller: You
said Kevin
Spacey's
character in
American
Beauty has sex
with a teenage
girl. But he
doesn't,
right? Rapp: I
don't recall
that. Keller:
Judge Kaplan
said, Don't
try this case
in the media,
right? Rapp's
lawyer:
Objection...
No, withdrawn
Judge
Kaplan: Tell
me we're not
going to have
the movie
shown... I
mean it, I
want a
stipulation.
Q: To the
facts of the
movie? Judge
Kaplan: Yes.
Next witness:
Christopher
Hart.
Rapp's
lawyer: What
did you say,
when Anthony
Rapp told you
what Kevin
Spacey had
done to him?
Hart: I don't
remember what
I said, but I
do remember
him telling
me. Rapp's
lawyer: Did
Anthony ever
say he had a
crush on John
Barrowman?
Hart: Never.
Rapp's
lawyer: Who
paid for your
flight here
from SF? Hart:
Your firm.
Cross
examination.
Spacey's
lawyer
Scolnick: You
have no first
hand knowledge
if Mr. Rapp's
claims are
true, right?
Hart: No first
hand
knowledge.
Scolnick:
Anthony Rapp
didn't tell
you he went to
Jack Lemmon's
dressing room,
did he? Hart:
He did not.
Scolnick: Did
he tell you Ed
Harris'
character
pretended to
make a sexual
advance on him
in every
performance?
Hart: No.
An
objection is
made "under
Rule 412."
Judge Kaplan
tells not only
the jurors,
but also the
spectators
(and press) to
leave the
courtroom. Coverage
will
continue -
watch this
site.
Watch
this site.
Back on
September 17,
Spacey through
counsel filed
a letter
seeking to limit
the
anticipated
testimony of
Dr. Lisa M. Roccio - who
also testified for
the
prosecution in
US v. Ghislaine
Maxwell:
"Defendant
Kevin Spacey
Fowler (“Mr.
Fowler”) will
and hereby
does move this
Court, before
the United
States
District Judge
Lewis A.
Kaplan, in the
United States
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York,
located in the
Federal
Courthouse,
500 Pearl
Street, New
York, NY
10007, on
October 6,
2022, or a
date to be set
by the Court,
for an order
in limine to
preclude
plaintiff
Anthony Rapp
from offering
expert
testimony on
credibility
issues and
other improper
opinions of
his expert
witness, Lisa
Rocchio, Ph.D.
Under Federal
Rule of
Evidence
401-403,
701-702, and
other
applicable
law, Mr.
Fowler brings
this motion to
preclude Dr.
Rocchio from
testifying at
trial about
opinions or
information
that would
invade the
province of
the jury and
are otherwise
inappropriate
for expert
opinion. Dr.
Rocchio’s
report
includes
opinions and
conclusions
that purport
to opine on
the
credibility of
Plaintiff and
his
allegations,
as well as the
purported
corroboration
of other
evidence. This
is plainly
improper. Dr.
Rocchio also
provides
impermissible
expert
opinions
constituting
legal
conclusions
and a
narrative
description of
hearsay
statements of
which she has
no personal
knowledge.
Relatedly,
Plaintiff’s
counsel should
be precluded
from asking
questions of
Mr. Fowler’s
rebuttal
witness,
Alexander
Bardey, M.D.,
about
credibility
issues,
including
without
limitation
allegations of
unrelated
alleged
misconduct of
Mr. Fowler.
Dr. Bardey was
not designated
to opine about
credibility
issues or
anything to do
with a
psychological
evaluation of
Mr. Fowler.
Nor was Dr.
Rocchio. And
other
allegations of
sexual
misconduct are
entirely
irrelevant to
either
expert’s
opinion.
Finally, Mr.
Fowler seeks
an order
precluding Dr.
Rocchio from
testifying at
trial about
any opinions
not stated by
her in her
report or at
her
deposition."
Full letter
on Patreon here.
On
September 9,
in the run up
to the October
6 trial,
Spacey through
counsel
indicated he
wants to make
public Rapp's sexual
history. From
his filing:
"I write
to inform Your
Honor that Mr.
Fowler will be
filing a
motion in
limine that
bears on the
Court’s
consideration
of Plaintiff’s
objections to
transcript
designations
submitted on
September 8,
2022." Complete
filing on
Patreon here.
Back
on June 6, Judge Kaplan issued
two orders: one dismissing
Rapp's first cause of action
but not the rest of the
complaint, the second denying
his motion for remand (argued
below). The first order
recounts Rapp's allegation
that when he was 14, Spacey
put him back down on a bed,
"grazing" his buttocks. Order
on Patreon here.
On August 25,
this: "TRIAL ORDER: The Clerks
Office is scheduled to provide
the Court a jury panel for
this case on Thursday. October
6, 2022. On that day, the
parties must be present in
Courtroom 21B by 9:30 AM ready
to begin jury selection and
proceed immediately to trial.
You are instructed to take the
following steps in connection
with the trial as further set
forth in this Order.
( Jury Selection set for
10/6/2022 at 09:30 AM in
Courtroom 21B, 500 Pearl
Street, New York, NY 10007
before Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.)
(Signed by Judge Lewis A.
Kaplan on 8/25/22)."
As to jury
selection, Judge Kaplan on
September 7 ordered, "ORDER.
Consistent with the Rule, the
Court will examine prospective
jurors, as it does in all
cases, and will take the
parties' helpful joint
questionnaire into
consideration in formulating
its own examination. Upon
conclusion of the Court's
examination, it will afford
counsel adequate opportunity
to suggest additional
questions and ask any that the
Court considers proper. The
request to have prospective
jurors complete a written
questionnaire in writing is
denied. Among other reasons,
it agrees that "jurors tend[]
to understand written
questions differently from
those who draft[] the
questions, leading to
substantial difficulty in
parsing their responses."
United States v. Treacy, 639
F.3d 32, 47 (2d Cir. 2011). SO
ORDERED. (Signed by Judge
Lewis A. Kaplan on 9/7/22)."
Back on August 9,
Judge Kaplan ruled: "Fowler's
motion to compel is GRANTED to
the extent that it seeks (a)
production of Vary's pre-2017
communications with Rapp, 2021
communications with Darlow
Smithson Productions, and
documents regarding any
interactions between Vary and
Fowler and (b) a supplemental
deposition. Vary shall sit for
a supplemental deposition not
to exceed four hours and
answer, to the extent
consistent with this
Memorandum Opinion, all
questions he refused to answer
at his initial deposition and
all reasonable follow up
questions and questions about
or relating to the newly
produced documents and matters
disclosed therein. The
documents shall be produced no
later than August 15, 2022.
The supplemental deposition
shall take place on a date
mutually acceptable to Vary
and the parties, which shall
be on or before September 9,
2022."
Back on September
9, 2021, Judge Kaplan held a
proceeding about 60 new names,
and sealed affidavits. Inner
City Press live tweeted it here
and below.
On
October 4 Spacey asked to seal the UK High
Court's Order which, he says, orders him to
destroy material by October 7. Full letter on
Patreon here.
On
December 9 at 4:30 pm, six hours after the US v.
Ghislaine Maxwell trial was paused at
least for one day due to an ill prosecutor,
Judge Kaplan held another proceeding
in Rapp v. Spacey (or Fowler)
and Inner City Press
live tweeted it here,
podcast (including on
Maxwell and UN) here.
On December
10, Rapp's
lawyer
wrote to Judge
Kaplan and asked
that his forthcoming
protective order
including an order
prohibiting
disclosure of names
of those alleging
abuse by Spacey -
full letter on
Patreon here.
On
March 10, 2022 a
trial date was
set: "ORDER,
This case is set
for trial on
October 4, 2022
at 9:30 a.m.
subject to any
changes
warranted by
pandemic
circumstances."
On March
14, digging in
Miscellaneous
cases, Inner
City Press
came upon satellite
litigation
between Spacey
and Adam Vary,
who citing
the First Amendment
and shield
laws declined
to answer
questions at a
deposition.
Judge
Kaplan ordered
Vary to answer
the subpoena by
May 31. On May 23,
Vary's counsel
asked for
reconsideration
or a two week
stay in order
to appeal.
On May 27
Vary's counsel
filed another
letter,
including
"nearly all of
the materials
contain
unpublished
newsgathering
information
that we
maintain is
privileged and
shielded from
production,
but we
acknowledge
was not
provided
or
obtained
subject to
promises of
confidentiality.
However, there
are a handful
of source
names
and
information
that was
provided
pursuant to
promises of
confidentiality.
Our
understanding
is that the
confidential
sources
corroborate
Mr. Rapp’s
account, but
do not want to
have
their
information
exposed.
Although we
maintain that
both
non-confidential
and
confidential
unpublished
newsgathering
materials are
privileged and
shielded from
disclosure,
there
are
special
protections
and
considerations
for
confidential
source
materials."
Full letter
on Patreon here.
On June 7,
Judge Kaplan
offered this secord
clarification:
"ORDER denying
[23 in
22-mc-0063]
Letter Motion
for Discovery;
denying [24 in
22-mc-0063]
Letter Motion
for Discovery.
On May 19,
2022, this
Court ordered
that Mr. Vary
submit, under
seal, for in
camera review
various
materials that
he may be
withholding
from
production in
order to
inform its
analysis of
whether he has
satisfied his
burden of
showing that
the materials,
if indeed
there are any,
should be
produced to
the defendant.
On June I,
2022 it
granted in
part Mr.
Vary's request
for additional
time within
which to
comply. (The
May 19 and
June I orders
are referred
to
collectively
as the
"Orders.") Mr.
Vary now seeks
a stay of the
Orders insofar
as they (I)
require the
submission for
in camera
review of any
withheld
materials that
contain what
he calls
"confidential
source
information"
and (2)
supposedly
require such
submission of
"post-subpoena
attorney-client
communications."
Dkt. 23. The
proposed stay,
if granted,
would remain
in effect for
"14 days after
the later of
the following
events: (a)
the Court's
ruling on Mr.
Fowler's
motion for
summary
judgment; and
(b) the
Court's ruling
on Mr. Rapp's
renewed motion
to remand. Dkt
159, 172,
20-cv-09586."
Id. The
ostensible
justification
for this
relief is to
afford Mr.
Vary's counsel
additional
time to
"consider and
possibly seek
appellate
review of
those portions
of the Court's
Orders, and
then, if Mr.
Vary does seek
appellate
review, stay
[the Orders]
until the
outcome of
such review."
That
case is Fowler
v. Vary,
22-mc-63
(Kaplan)
Inner
City Press
will continue
to follow these
cases.
From back on Dec 9: now in
Rapp v. Kevin Spacey (for
rape of 14 year-old), a
proceeding in SDNY by
phone, in a case which
Inner City Press has been
reporting on and will, in
haitus from #MaxwellTrial
which has no call-in line,
live tweet:
Spacey, defending himself
from claim he raped Rapp,
wanted get discovery into
all of his past
relationships.
Spacey's lawyer: He's only
alleging that Mr Fowler
[that is, Kevin Spacey]
picked him up and dropped
him. It's essentially
child abuse, not sexual
assault.
On January
10, 2021 Spacey's lawyer wrote
to Judge Kaplan to preclude
Rapp from calling
Justin Dawes as a
witness,
including
portions
of his
December 28, 2021 deposition.
They argue
that Dawes
withheld
information, the name of
an "unnamed
friend."
On January 12,
Rapp's lawyers
filed a 5 page
letter
including that
"Mr. Dawes, he
agreed to
voluntarily,
without a
subpoena,
testify about
how Spacey
made an
inappropriate
sexual advance
on him when he
was a minor...
" at one point
his hand was
on my leg. You
know, I
thought it was
mildly
uncomfortable.
I did not, you
know, feel
threatened,
but I thought
it was a kind
of, you know,
probing of a
sexual nature
to see how
comfortable I
was with
that.'" Full
letter on
Patreon here.
Watch this
site. Inner
City Press will stay on it
- podcast
Watch this site.
From February 23:
Lawyers for Kevin Spacey are
arguing to strike testimony of
Doctor Seymour H. Block.
Spacey is being sued civilly
for sex abuse.
Judge
Kaplan: You are asking me to
make an important decision, in
a country that values public
trials as much as we do, in
the unique circumstance of a
person who sued and also went
to the press with it. In
advance.
Plaintiffs
lawyer: When my client gave
the interview before this
case. So there was no attempt
to influence the jury. In
fact, when my client spoke to
the press this case would have
been barred by the statute of
limitations.
Judge
Kaplan: But if disclosure
would harm him, why did he go
to the press? Plaintiff's
lawyer: They did not reveal
his name. Judge Kaplan: But he
couldn't know it would work.
The publication checked his
account with others. There was
a chance he would be ID-ed
Judge Kaplan:
What's that case you're
citing? Defense: Doe, 241 FRD
154, 159 (SDNY, 2006). And
another one by Justice
Brennan, about how public
trials bring in more
witnesses. CD made his
decision. We have our due
process rights. [He calls
Spacey "Mr. Fowler"]
Judge Kaplan: On
a proper showing, the
pleadings need not contain the
name of a party, no? Defense:
They have to meet the Doe
factors. And CD has not met
his burden. Plaintiff: Doe v.
Colgate, the plaintiff went to
the press and was still
anonymous.
Judge
Kaplan: I'm going to wait
until you make your expert
disclosure. Plaintiff's
lawyer: There is a person
beyond Mr Rapp who is aware of
this. And Mr Rapp is not
seeking to withhold his name.
Judge Kaplan: You
need to file the relevant
piece of the deposition.
The proceeding ends, just like
that.
From February 2:
Spacey's lawyer says it is
unfair for C.D. to proceeding
anonymously. "While it is true
we have C.D.'s name, only if
we make it public can others
come forward with evidence
about him... this is the right
to due process."
C.D.'s lawyer:
The sealed plaintiff versus
sealed defendant factors weigh
in our favor. We are talking
about the rape of a minor. The
declaration by his therapist
shows he would suffer harm if
his name is made public.
Judge: If
it happened it's abhorrent.
But I don't have to be
reminded of what Mr Spacey is
accused of in every sentence.
CD's lawyer: Spacey said, as
to Rapp, that if it happened
he was sorry. But here he is
denying it entirely.
Judge: You're not
getting anywhere.
Judge Kaplan: Get
me your papers, and you'll get
a decision promptly. Until
then, don't disclose the name
to third parties - except to
Mr. Rapp, subject to sealing.
Spacey's lawyer:
Every day is lost time.
So Rapp's
deposition will go forward,
with C.D.'s real name said at
it but reported in the
transcript as C.D..
Inner City Press will continue
to report on this case. More
on Patreon here.
The case is
Rapp et al v. Fowler,
20-cv-9586 (Kaplan)
***
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