UPDATED: US Jury Finds Donald Trump Guilty of Sexual Abuse on E Jean Carroll
E. Jean Carroll’s civil trial against former President Donald Trump has begun, and it promises to be one of the most high-profile cases in recent memory.
Carroll is a well-known advice columnist and author who accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Trump has denied the allegation, and his lawyers have argued that he cannot be sued because he was acting in his official capacity as president at the time the alleged incident occurred.
Here are five things to know about the trial:
1. The trial centers around Trump’s defamation of Carroll
The trial is a defamation lawsuit brought by Carroll against Trump. In 2019, Trump denied ever having met Carroll and accused her of making up the rape allegation to sell books.
Carroll filed a lawsuit against Trump for defamation, arguing that his statements damaged her reputation and career.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that his statements were protected by the First Amendment and that he was merely expressing his opinion.
2. Trump’s official capacity defense has already been rejected by the courts
Trump’s lawyers have argued that he cannot be sued for defamation because he was acting in his official capacity as president at the time he made the allegedly defamatory statements.
However, this argument has already been rejected by the courts. In 2020, a federal judge ruled that Trump was not acting in his official capacity when he denied knowing Carroll and accused her of lying.
The judge noted that Trump was not speaking about matters of public concern and that his statements were not related to his official duties as president.
3. Carroll’s case rests on proving that Trump’s statements were false and defamatory
In order to win her case, Carroll must prove that Trump’s statements were false and that they caused her harm.
Carroll has argued that she suffered damage to her reputation and career as a result of Trump’s statements, which she says were intended to smear her and discredit her rape allegation.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that his statements were opinions and that Carroll cannot prove that they were false.
4. The trial could shed new light on the allegations against Trump
The trial could provide new insights into the allegations against Trump and the circumstances surrounding them.
Carroll has said that she has DNA evidence from the alleged rape, but Trump’s lawyers have argued that the evidence is irrelevant and should not be allowed in court.
5. The outcome of the trial could have implications for other cases involving Trump
The outcome of the trial could have broader implications for other cases involving Trump. Trump faces multiple lawsuits and investigations related to his business dealings, his conduct in office, and his personal life.
The outcome of the Carroll trial could influence how these cases proceed and how other judges view Trump’s actions and statements.
In conclusion, E. Jean Carroll’s civil trial against Donald Trump promises to be a significant event that could have implications for the former president and for the legal system as a whole.
While the trial will focus on the narrow question of whether Trump defamed Carroll, it could also shed new light on the allegations against him and the broader political and legal landscape in which they have unfolded.
