Trump faces $10 million defamation claim by E. Jean Carroll after CNN town hall remarks
Former President Donald Trump is facing a defamation lawsuit from E. Jean Carroll, a writer and advice columnist for Elle magazine, concerning statements he made about her in 2019. Carroll claimed in her book, “What Do We Need Men For?”, that Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump denied the allegations and responded by publicly insulting and disparaging Carroll on multiple occasions.
Carroll filed a lawsuit against Trump in 2019, claiming that he defamed her by publicly calling her a liar and damage her reputation. Last year, a court ruled that the case could move forward, as Trump’s statements were not made as part of his official duties.
The case was scheduled to go ahead on November 9, 2021, but was postponed due to Trump’s legal team contracting COVID-19. The case was later postponed again after the judge recused himself from the case. It is now scheduled to be held in front of Manhattan judge Lewis Kaplan on December 1, 2022.
In May 2023, Carroll, is requesting $10 million in compensatory damages plus interest, in addition to more than $22,000 in legal costs. Her legal team stated in court filings that the president’s comments about her “were intentional and politically motivated lies”, and that the remarks had caused her to suffer “emotional pain and suffering, damage to her reputation, and other economic and non-economic losses”.
In response, attorneys for Trump filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the former President’s comments about Carroll were not defamatory, and that he was acting in his official capacity when he made the remarks. They also argued that Carroll has not provided sufficient evidence to support her claims of emotional distress.
However, Judge Kaplan denied Trump’s motion, ruling that the former President could be held personally liable for allegedly defamatory statements he made about Carroll while he was still in office. The case will now proceed to trial, with the judge set to hear arguments from both sides before making a final decision.
Overall, the lawsuit brought by Carroll against Trump has been ongoing for several years, and continues to generate significant public interest. Given the high stakes involved, both sides are likely to continue vigorously litigating the case in the months and years ahead. Whatever the outcome, it could have significant implications for the future of defamation law in the United States.
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