The disgraced reporter behind Rolling Stone’s retracted article, “A Rape on Campus” is still open to the possibility Jackie Coakley was gang-raped at the University of Virginia (UVA), according to a newly-released court deposition tape.

The tape of testimony given by Sabrina Erdely was made as part of an ongoing $7.5 million defamation lawsuit by UVA Dean Nicole Eramo against Rolling Stone. Eramo claims Rolling Stone ruined her reputation and caused massive emotional distress by maliciously portraying her as a callous figure more interested in protecting UVA’s reputation than in addressing rape allegations.

The deposition occurred last spring, but the video was only made public Friday as part of a story on ABC’s 20/20 about the UVA saga. Attorneys representing Rolling Stone have accused Eramo’s team of leaking the tape.

WATCH:



ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

In the deposition, Erdely is asked whether she thinks Coakley actually was gang-raped, given revelations showing the supposed attack was apparently fabricated as part of a convoluted scheme to win the romantic interest of a boy she liked. Despite the revelations, Erdely indicated a rape may still have occurred. (RELATED: You Can Finally Read UVA Jackie’s Bizarre Catfishing Texts)

“I have no way of knowing,” Erdely says. “I couldn’t possibly speculate.”

In another part of the deposition, Erdely says it “never occurred to me” that Coakley was fabricating her story, because “she proved to be credible in so many different ways.”

Erdely said her total trust in Coakley explained why she didn’t reach out to Ryan Duffin, a fellow student whose statements to other media outlets eventually helped expose Coakley’s claims as a sham.

“I took her as a very credible source, and I took her at her word that he didn’t want to speak,” Erdely says.

At one point in the deposition, Erdely breaks down in tears.

“I had full faith in Jackie, and in her story,” Erdely says, her voice quivering. “Discovering that she had misled me, or had omitted information, it was, uh, it was just devastating.”

The trial phase of Eramo’s lawsuit against Rolling Stone is set to begin Monday, with a ruling by the end of the month.

Send tips to blake@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.