U.S. Jury Concludes Trump Sexually Abused Writer E. Jean Carroll
E. Jean Carroll exits Manhattan Federal Court following the verdict in the civil rape accusation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2023.
Court Ruling Bars Trump from Disputing Rape Claim
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan has ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot contest in a defamation trial that he did not rape writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s, as a previous jury found that he sexually abused her.
In a recent order, Judge Kaplan granted Carroll’s request to prevent the defense from arguing that the prior jury’s decision was due to disbelief in Carroll’s rape accusation.
Background of the Case
A jury in May previously directed Trump to pay Carroll $5 million for their alleged encounter in a Bergdorf Goodman store dressing room, which Trump denies ever occurred. Additionally, he was held accountable for defaming her in 2022.
In the upcoming Jan. 16 trial, a distinct jury will deliberate on the amount Trump should compensate Carroll for defamation, specifically related to statements made in 2019.
Court’s Justification
Trump’s legal team claimed that the prior jury’s conclusion undermined Carroll’s assertion of malice by asserting that he didn’t recognize Carroll and that she fabricated the rape claim for book sales.
However, Judge Kaplan ruled that despite not fitting the definition of rape under New York law, the jury’s finding that Trump forcibly and non-consensually penetrated Carroll’s vagina substantiated her rape claim in modern parlance.
Trial Details
Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages along with punitive damages. She is expected to testify, and Trump could potentially be a trial witness.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges, including 91 criminal charges across four indictments, Trump remains a front runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Trump’s legal team and representatives have not yet responded to requests for comments.
Case Information
The ongoing case is Carroll v. Trump, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 20-07311.
