Alleged Sexual Assault: Court Resumes Defamation Case Against Donald Trump

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is anticipated to appear in a New York court on Tuesday for a civil case where he has previously been held responsible for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, the writer.

In May of the previous year, a jury reached the verdict that Trump had sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll in the dressing room of a New York department store back in 1996. This determination led to a monetary compensation of approximately $2 million, reflecting damages related to the assault. Additionally, an extra $3 million was awarded for defamation stemming from Trump’s 2022 statement in which he dismissed Carroll’s accusation as “a complete con job.”

The jury’s decision underscored the serious implications of both the alleged assault and the subsequent defamation, reflecting a significant legal outcome in E. Jean Carroll’s case against the former President.

Tuesday’s trial will address how much Trump should be forced to pay for separate remarks he made about Carroll in 2019, as president. She is seeking $10 million in damages.

The second trial opens with jury selection just a day after Trump’s big win in the Iowa caucuses — the opening of the Republican presidential nomination process — and ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

Trump, the runaway favorite for the Republican nomination, said last week he planned to attend the proceedings in person and face Carroll, now 80. He did not do this in the first trial.

US media reported he will attend the opening session on Tuesday, before heading to a campaign rally in New Hampshire.

According to a document filed in the case, Trump, 77, requested a postponement to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, Thursday in Florida.

But Judge Lewis Kaplan refused, pointing out that Trump was still planning to meet with supporters in New Hampshire.

Last week the former president continued to insist of Carroll that “I never saw this woman in my life.”

“I have no idea who this woman is,” said Trump, who variously has called her a liar, “a wack job” and “not my type.”

Counting Tuesday’s trial, Trump is ensnared in at least six civil and criminal trials, including two stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Trump claims he is being politically persecuted and has made speeches full of invective, targeting judges and prosecutors who he says are trying to deny him a second term in the White House.

With tensions high around Trump’s trials — court officials in his civil fraud case whom he has criticized by name have received death threats — the judge ordered that the jurors’ names be kept secret.

He also warned that the only issue at stake will be the harm caused to Carroll by Trump’s comments, which Kaplan already said he considered “defamatory,” “false” and “malicious.”

Trump cannot introduce any evidence to argue he did not sexually assault her and that he did not defame her, the judge has said.