EBN- Donald Trump testified briefly during the defamation trial initiated by E. Jean Carroll, adhering to strict rules governing his statements. The former president, previously found guilty of defaming Ms. Carroll for remarks in 2019, staunchly supported a 2022 deposition where he vehemently denied her sexual assault allegations, branding her a “whack job.” Some comments violated imposed restrictions, leading to their removal from the record.
This legal maneuver aligns with Trump’s strategy, intertwining legal battles with his re-election campaign for political engagement and significant media coverage in pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination. In a related civil trial last year, Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting Ms. Carroll and ordered to pay around $5 million in damages, yet he persistently denies the assault in public statements.
The current civil trial focuses on defamatory comments Trump made about Ms. Carroll in 2019 while in the White House, with the jury deliberating the damages he must pay. Closing arguments are set for Friday, with a swift ruling anticipated.
Trump’s persistent denial of Ms. Carroll’s sexual assault allegations, despite a court ruling, led to stringent constraints on his Thursday testimony. Legal intricacies prompted extensive debates between the judge and lawyers over permissible content, overshadowing Trump’s brief four-minute statement. Judge Kaplan emphasized the established facts from the previous trial, leaving the jury to determine Trump’s financial responsibility. The judge explicitly prohibited Trump from denying the sexual assault, restricting lengthy monologues and campaign-related commentary.
During the defamation trial, Trump presented a concise six-minute defense, asserting victimhood to political persecution. When asked about his deposition, Trump emphatically affirmed, stating “100% yes.” His lawyer inquired about the denial of Ms. Carroll’s accusation, prompting an affirmative response. Judge Kaplan intervened, instructing the jury to disregard the last statement. Ms. Habba questioned Trump about instructing harm to Ms. Carroll, to which he replied negatively. The judge expunged the latter part from the record.
As Trump left the courtroom, he commented, “It’s not America. This is not America.” Earlier, Judge Kaplan warned him against loud interruptions, including muttering under his breath about not having “never met this woman [Ms. Carroll].”
Violating stipulated constraints could expose Trump to fines or a five-year prison sentence for perjury. Ronnell Andersen Jones, a law professor, emphasized the contrast between Trump’s legal approach and campaign strategies. Convincing the jury that Trump’s White House comments don’t show “ill will deserving punitive damages” proves challenging due to ongoing actions, presenting a difficulty highlighted by Ms. Jones. The defamation trial resumes Friday for closing arguments, with uncertainty regarding Trump’s attendance.
