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A. Truth has many, many meanings and is a continuum. The Supreme Court has held that rhetorical hyperbole cannot be the basis, for example, of perjury prosecutions or generally of a defamation prosecution.
So it depends on the context. You might just look at the dictionary and probably get a variety of definitions for it.
BY MR. SCAROLA:
Q. Well, what I'm concerned about,
Mr. Dershowitz, is not a dictionary definition. I want to know what your understanding of rhetorical hyperbole is.
And do you agree that pursuant to your understanding of rhetorical hyperbole, it is an exaggeration beyond the facts?
MR. SCOTT: Objection, argumentative and
compound, three questions.
A. No --
MR. SCOTT: You can answer.
A. -- I would not agree with that definition.
BY MR. SCAROLA:
Q. Okay. Then define it for us, if you would, please.
A. I think J have already.
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187
transcript of the interview? We'd like to see it.
MR. SCAROLA: That's exactly what I gave you, the photocopy.
MR. SCOTT: We're doing it right now. Maybe we can move on and come back then.
MR. SCAROLA: No, I would like to proceed.
MR. SCOTT: Then let's stop until I get a copy of it. Because he -- | want --
MR. SCAROLA: J don't think that's necessary because your client has told us that he has a superb memory and one of the things | would like to know is what he's able to recall.
If he needs to refresh his memory, the transcripts will be here in just a moment, but I don't want to delay going forward.
MR. SCOTT: Do you need the transcript to refresh your memory?
THE WITNESS: Well, I have no memory of what specifically | said on a particular day in a particular interview.
MR. SCOTT: Since you have a copy in front of him, why don't you just show him your copy then? Read the -- ask your question and let him read it.
186
Q. I'm sorry, I missed the definition. Could you tell us what rhetorical hyperbole is?
MR. SCOTT: Objection, repetitious. He's done it.
A. Why don't we just read back my answer.
BY MR. SCAROLA:
Q. Because I didn't understand it, so I would like you to try to give us a direct response to that question if you're able te.
A. | will repeat exactly what I said. A rhetorical means verbal and hyperbole means some exaggeration of the facts for political or other reasons, but generally it is truthful in a literal sense but perhaps -- it all depends on context.
And if you tell me the context in which I used it, I will be happy to describe what | meant in that context. But } don’t think you can really answer a question about what two words put together
mean without understanding the context. Q. Okay. Well, we're going to talk about some context. Do you recall having been interviewed on CNN Tonight on January 5, 2015? A. have no current recollection of -- MR. SCOTT: Do you have a copy of the
BY MR. SCAROLA:
Q. Do you recall having been interviewed on CNN Tonight by Don Lemon?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. Do you recall having been interviewed on CNN Tonight by Don Lemon in carly January of 2015, where you spoke about matters that have become the subject of this litigation?
A. Yes, Ido.
Q. Did you make the following statement during the course of that interview: "As to the airplanes, there are manifests that will prove beyond any doubt that I was never on a private airplane with this woman or any other underage girl"?
MR. SCOTT: You need to see the transcript? THE WITNESS: No. No. A. That is a truthful statement. | would repeat it right now. I've reviewed the manifests. First, 1 know I was never on the airplane with any underage woman. I know that for a fact. | have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. And the records that I have reviewed confirm that. They have Virginia Roberts on a number of
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