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.
The jury in the trial of MP Nigel Evans were told "regret" over having sex could not form the basis of conviction.
In his closing statement, Peter Wright QC went through each of the charges against Mr Evans, pointing out what he claimed were consistencies in the accounts. He said the man who claims the former speaker raped him regretted having sex with him, but this did not make Evans guilty of rape.
Mr Wright said:
"In the cold light of day, the complainant may regret what had taken place and how far it had actually gone. But such sentiments are some considerable distance removed from an incident of sexual assault and rape.
"He gave every indication of consent. Now he seeks to turn the clock back.
"Saving his conscience is not the basis on which to convict a man of rape and sexual assault."
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.