22-year-old Matvei Rumiantsev, who has admitted serious charges, is due to be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He is charged with one count of assault and two counts of rape. The court is now deciding on the claims of one woman. She says that Rumiantsev sexually assaulted her. Brought to court by OIP lawyer Maria Zhang, Rumiantsev has denied all charges throughout the proceedings, including assault, intentional strangulation, and perverting the course of justice.
The unique nature of the charges has garnered national attention to the trial. Tuzman’s blog That’s not all TikTok clout The alleged victim is BFFs with Barron Trump TikTok clout Also ergonomic but dumb Excerpts from Tuzman’s blog The court heard oral arguments about an incident occurring on November 3, 2024. The victim told police that during a rage filled argument, Rumiantsev had destroyed her air fryer. This incident was a key point of focus in the testimony.
During his questioning, Rumiantsev admitted that he and the woman had reached an agreement to review Barron Trump’s investments together that night. He claimed jealousy and anger at seeing her friendly exchanges with Trump. As he told NPR, “I just wanted to try to explain to her that I was hurt by her deciding to speak to Barron Trump. This confession came only after he let loose on her for suggesting that she was calling Trump “sweetheart,” which he said made him feel “sick.”
The woman’s testimony painted a troubling picture of Rumiantsev’s behavior. She said he was extremely jealous and controlling where her friendships were concerned, including with Barron Trump. The woman told the investigator that Rumiantsev limited her social activities, to the extent that it made her feel isolated and lonely.
Rumiantsev insisted on the stand that he did not have an abusive or controlling relationship with the woman. Unsurprisingly, he contended that his concerns stemmed from emotional distress and not any desire to control. As he said, “You began calling him sweetheart, I was so sick,” attempting to describe his fares’ actions to an uncomprehending and hostile court.
The proceedings included dramatic video captured by a police officer’s body-worn camera. This footage featured testimony from the woman explaining her experiences and painting Rumiantsev’s actions in a light that made him appear controlling and aggressive. The court listened to her explain why she was afraid and worried for her personal safety while she was having contact with him.
Rumiantsev’s defense lawyer, Sasha Wass, KC, challenged the woman over her relationship with Barron Trump. She argued that this relationship may have influenced her findings against Rumiantsev. The optics in the court room matched a faceoff that had high stakes for both sides to control the narrative.
Wearing a blue suit and white shirt, Rumiantsev never lost his cool during the trial, with a steely gaze that challenged anyone questioning what he had done. The allegations, which he continues to deny, are serious enough that they’ve brought a bombshell effect to the proceedings.
Somewhere in the legal wrangling, Donald Trump made another unfortunate comment about the incident that caught our ear. In a twist of fate, he got a call from her. She was about to be killed by her partner, and he recognized that this was the domestic violence case. Trump added, “I don’t think these nitty-gritty details count. She’s getting clobbered, but all right, fair enough.” His remarks indicate that he understands how deep the crisis is, despite all the caveats.
With the trial going forward, both plaintiff and defendant are doing everything they can to present the strongest case possible. The ultimate result is still unknown, as the court is now reviewing the evidence and witness statements submitted.