Nigel Evans told police a ex Westminster worker who accused him of sexual assault was "Machiavellian" and at the "centre of the web" of a plot against him, his trial heard. He denies all charges against him.
MP Nigel Evans has denied raping a man in his home, but told a court that he did have consensual sex with him.
Mr Evans denies one allegation of rape as well as two indecent assaults, five sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault.
In his first day in the witness box, the MP said that he did have sexual intercourse with the rape complainant in the bedroom of his home in Pendleton, but claimed it was "absolutely with consent".
Asked by his barrister if there ever any indication that he was not consenting, Mr Evans replied: "Absolutely not."
The MP also denied to the jury that he committed two further sexual assaults against the rape complainant on the same night.
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.