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A Russian man faced conviction in London on Wednesday for assaulting his girlfriend last year, following a report from Barron Trump. The young Trump, son of former President Donald Trump, claimed he witnessed the incident during a video call from the U.S.
Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, confessed to the attack, driven by jealousy over his girlfriend’s friendship with 19-year-old Barron Trump.
Barron informed investigators that he had initiated a FaceTime call late at night with the woman, whom he had befriended on social media. He was taken aback when a shirtless man briefly appeared on the screen.
“That glimpse lasted maybe a second, and I was immediately filled with adrenaline,” Barron Trump recounted. “The camera then switched to show the victim being struck while crying and speaking in Russian.”
FILE – Barron Trump observes as his father, President Donald Trump, participates in an indoor presidential inauguration parade event at Capital One Arena in Washington, on January 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
The call ended seconds later. Barron Trump immediately contacted London police, pleading for help as a dispatcher pressed him for details about the victim.
“I don’t think these details matter, she’s getting beat up,” Trump said on the recording. When he hesitated, the dispatcher replied: “If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely.”
Police went to the address on Jan. 18, 2025, and arrested Rumiantsev, a London-based receptionist.
Barron Trump attends the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
At trial in Snaresbrook Crown Court, Rumiantsev was acquitted of rape and choking related to the night Barron Trump called police, as well as a separate rape and assault allegation from November 2024.
The jury, however, convicted Rumiantsev of assault and perverting the course of justice after evidence showed he sent the woman a letter from jail urging her to retract her claims.
Rumiantsev testified that he was jealous of Barron Trump but said he also felt sorry for him, believing his girlfriend had led Trump on. Defense attorney Sasha Wass argued Trump did not know the woman had a boyfriend and questioned how much he could have seen in just a few seconds of video.
Barron Trump leaves NYU’s Stern Business School in New York, NY, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. (Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
Justice Bennathan instructed jurors to treat Trump’s account cautiously because he did not testify and was not cross-examined. Trump’s statements to police and investigators were admitted through recordings and written correspondence.
“He could have been asked whether he actually saw the assault or whether he jumped to that conclusion based on her screams,” the judge said.
Rumiantsev is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27.