Trump may testify in E Jean Carroll defamation case: Here’s what’s to know | Donald Trump News

Former United States President Donald Trump could testify on Monday in a defamation trial over his 2019 feedback branding author E Jean Carroll a liar who faked a sexual assault to promote a memoir. He plans to be in courtroom because the New York trial resumes after a weekend break.

Trump has denied Carroll’s accusations and has focused her in feedback to reporters and on social media, accusing her of constructing up the claims. But till now, he has by no means testified in courtroom over the allegations.

Here’s what to know in regards to the case in addition to the newest developments:

Who’s E Jean Carroll and what does she accuse Trump of?

Carroll, 80, a former Elle journal recommendation columnist, has accused Trump, 77, of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman division retailer dressing room in Manhattan in both 1995 or early 1996.

Carroll first made the accusations in a 2019 memoir.

Trump has vehemently denied {that a} rape ever occurred or that he even knew Carroll. He has labelled Carroll a “nut job” and “mentally sick”.

She is in search of a minimum of $10m for injury to her repute over two statements that Trump made in June 2019, whereas he was president, during which he denied that something occurred and mentioned Carroll made up the incident to spice up gross sales of her memoir.

“I’m right here as a result of Donald Trump assaulted me, and after I wrote about it, he mentioned it by no means occurred. He lied, and he shattered my repute,” Carroll informed jurors and Trump final week.

What’s occurred between 2019 and now?

In 2019, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Trump alleging that he labelled her a liar following the discharge of her memoir.

The identical yr, whereas serving as president, Trump refuted Carroll’s accusations, telling a reporter on the White Home: “I’ll say it with nice respect: Primary, she’s not my kind. Quantity two, it by no means occurred. It by no means occurred, OK?”

He acknowledged that he didn’t know her, emphasising that individuals who make such fees “should watch out, as a result of they’re enjoying with very harmful territory”.

Within the lawsuit, Carroll acknowledged that Trump “smeared her integrity, honesty and dignity – all within the nationwide press”.

That lawsuit was tied up in appeals courts as judges determined whether or not Trump was shielded from authorized claims for feedback made whereas he was president.

However wasn’t Trump held responsible in a case involving Carroll?

In 2022, Carroll filed a second lawsuit in opposition to him minutes after a brand new New York State legislation took impact permitting victims of sexual violence to sue over assaults that occurred many years in the past.

She accused Trump of battery “when he forcibly raped and groped her” and of defamation, citing an October put up on his Reality Social platform the place he denied the alleged rape. Within the put up Trump referred to as Carroll’s declare a “hoax” and “lie”, prompting the brand new defamation declare.

To tell apart between the 2 instances, courtroom papers typically check with the go well with over Trump’s 2019 feedback as Carroll I, and the second case as Carroll II.

The second lawsuit moved ahead as a result of it was centred in statements Trump made when he was now not in workplace.

Because of this, a nine-member jury decided in Might 2023 that the ex-president didn’t rape Carroll, however they did discover him chargeable for sexual abuse and defamation. Jurors awarded Carroll just a little greater than $2m for sexual abuse. Additionally they awarded her $3m in damages for defamation. Trump is interesting that verdict.

In keeping with a report by The New York Occasions, Trump has not confronted felony fees for sexual assault, and such fees are usually not attainable because of the expiration of the statute of limitations within the case involving Carroll.

Felony courtroom requires a excessive normal of proof, the place guilt should be established past an inexpensive doubt by a jury. In distinction, in a civil case, the usual is decrease, and a jury can decide legal responsibility if it believes there’s a probability better than 50 p.c that the declare is true.

That’s Carroll II. However is Carroll I nonetheless in limbo?

Final week, following the conclusion of appeals in Carroll I and with the Biden administration’s Justice Division affirming final summer season that Trump lacked immunity, the trial lastly started.

As a result of the primary jury discovered that Trump sexually abused Carroll within the Nineties after which defamed her in 2022, the brand new trial considerations solely how rather more – if something – he’ll be ordered to pay her for different remarks he made in 2019 whereas he was president.

Who types the jury and what are Trump and Carroll stating?

The decide chosen a jury of two ladies and 7 males to listen to the case.

Throughout opening statements, Carroll informed jurors that Trump used his place as president to inform outright lies.

“He used the world’s largest microphone to assault Ms. Carroll, to humiliate her and to destroy her repute,” Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley informed jurors, based on a report by the Wall Road Journal.

Alina Habba, a lawyer defending Trump, informed the jury Carroll has benefitted from the scenario.

“Her profession has prospered, and she or he has been thrust again into the limelight as she all the time has needed,” Habba mentioned

“She has gained extra fame, extra notoriety than she may have ever dreamed of.”

“The proof will present that Ms. Carroll has made Trump the focus of her identification now,” Habba mentioned, including: “She doesn’t wish to repair her repute, women and gents. She likes her new model.”

What comes subsequent?

Trump may testify on Monday. Carroll’s legal professionals have implored the decide to make Trump swear, earlier than any testimony, that he understands and accepts the courtroom’s restrictions on what he can say.

Decide Kaplan has dominated that if the previous president takes the stand now, he gained’t be allowed to say she concocted her allegation or that she was motivated by monetary or political concerns.

Trump doesn’t should attend or give testimony within the civil case. He stayed away final yr from the prior trial.

The previous president is at the moment contending with 4 felony instances in addition to the civil fraud case and Carroll’s lawsuit because the presidential major season will get into gear. He has been juggling courtroom and marketing campaign appearances, utilizing each to argue that he’s being persecuted by Democrats afraid of his attainable election.

Trump is predicted to journey after Monday’s courtroom session to a night marketing campaign occasion in New Hampshire, which holds its Republican presidential major on Tuesday.