E. Jean Carroll Faces Intense Questioning in a Defamation Lawsuit
In a New York court on Thursday, E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused former President Donald Trump of rape, endured rigorous questioning from Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba. Carroll, 80, is suing Trump for defamation, seeking over $10 million in damages after he denied knowing her and labelled her a liar regarding the alleged 1996 assault at Bergdorf Goodman.
Despite Trump’s absence at court, his lawyer attempted to cast doubt on Carroll’s credibility, suggesting she gained from the publicity of her accusations. Habba probed Carroll about her enjoyment of attention and praise from celebrities like Bette Midler, who congratulated her on a separate trial’s $5 million verdict against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation.
While Carroll acknowledged enjoying compliments, she refuted claims that her social “status” had improved, highlighting the hatred and threats from Trump supporters that resulted in hundreds of abusive messages online.
“I’m more well known, but I’m hated by a lot more people,” Carroll testified.
She revealed invitations to parties hosted by Vanity Fair writer Molly Jong-Fast after her 2019 accusation. However, Carroll asserted her primary motive for suing Trump was to restore her reputation and status, negatively impacted by his false denial.
“I’m partaking in this trial to get my old reputation and status back,” Carroll emphasized.
The week-long trial, overseen by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, centres on Trump’s alleged “malice” in defaming Carroll. The jury of nine New Yorkers will determine damages, including punitive measures, aiming to deter Trump from continued slander.
Despite a break on Friday, the trial will resume on Monday. Judge Kaplan affirmed that Carroll’s claim of Trump “raping” her remains “substantially true” in the modern sense, even though the previous jury didn’t find evidence of him using his penis.
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