In a surprising turn of events, former US President Donald Trump found himself in a New York courtroom just hours after securing his first win in the Republican presidential nominee race. The reason for his appearance was the commencement of a defamation trial brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. This trial follows a previous case where a jury ruled in favor of Carroll, ordering Trump to pay $5 million in damages for the alleged assault.
During the trial, Carroll’s lawyer, Shawn Crowley, asserted that Trump had used his powerful platform to make her life miserable after she went public in 2019 with her story of being attacked by him in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Crowley emphasized that Trump utilized the “world’s biggest microphone” to humiliate and destroy Carroll’s reputation.
Notably, Trump chose to leave the courtroom before Carroll’s lawyer delivered the opening statement. Despite his departure, the trial proceeded, with Carroll seeking more than $10 million in damages. It’s crucial to understand that the jury’s focus is solely on determining the amount Trump should pay in damages, not on establishing the veracity of the alleged assault or whether Trump lied about it.
This is the second defamation case Carroll has brought against Trump, and the former president is currently appealing the $5 million awarded to her in the first trial. Any potential award in this second trial is also subject to appeal, a process that could extend over several years.
Throughout both cases, Trump has consistently maintained that he did not know Carroll and accused her of fabricating the encounter to boost sales of her memoir. However, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan has prohibited Trump from arguing that he did not defame or sexually assault Carroll or that her account is fabricated. The legal proceedings continue, adding another layer of complexity to Trump’s political journey and legal challenges.
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