Trump arrives at New York courthouse for E Jean Carroll defamation trial
Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of E Jean Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump, where the pair could face off today once again in the Manhattan federal court.
Trump’s motorcade arrived to the courthouse just before 9am ET, where he could be called to the stand to testify just hours before voting commences in the New Hampshire primary.
The former president attended the Manhattan federal court proceedings two days last week including on Wednesday, when the former Elle writer described how his 2019 denials of her rape claim smeared her reputation. Carroll’s testimony marked the first time she confronted him in a courtroom.
Trump’s reaction to Carroll’s testimony was characterized by repeated outbursts, spurring judge Lewis Kaplan to warn that the ex-president would be booted from court if he refused to behave.
This ongoing trial marks Carroll’s second defamation trial against Trump. A jury in May found the former US president liable of sexual abuse and defamation, voting to award Carroll $5m in damages.
Carroll is suing Trump over his June 2019 denials of her rape claim against him. This trial will determine damages.
The trial is expected to get under way at about 9.30am Eastern time.
Key events
E Jean Carroll took the witness stand at the Manhattan federal court last Wednesday, marking the first time she had confronted Donald Trump in the courtroom.
Carroll said Trump raped her almost three decades ago, in the changing room of an upscale Manhattan department store. She came forward with her account in 2019 when an excerpt from her book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, ran in New York magazine.
Trump, who was in the White House when Carroll’s claim surfaced, quickly attacked, saying: “I’ve never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book – that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section.” Carroll sued him in 2019, maintaining that Trump’s denials smeared her reputation, sparking online abuse and serious threats.
Carroll was initially not able to sue Trump for sexual assault, because the incident fell outside the civil statute of limitations. But in 2022, New York state’s Adult Survivors Act gave adult victims of sexual misconduct a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers for incidents outside this statute of limitations.
Carroll sued Trump once again, this time citing sexual assault and defamation claims for statements Trump made when he was no longer president. Judge Kaplan has determined the key facts in that case would be accepted in this second trial – Trump cannot relitigate Carroll’s rape claim.
Victoria Bekiempis
As we wait impatiently for proceedings to kick off, a little bit of color from outside.
Donald Trump’s motorcade arrived to the downtown Manhattan federal courthouse just before 9am.
Across from the courthouse, a handful of protesters were gathered, toting signs such as: “TRUMP IS THE BIGGEST LOSER” and “CRYBABY RAPIST LOSER.”
Good morning from Manhattan federal court. Protesters are outside as E Jean Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump resumes pic.twitter.com/OkITHpYVbI
— Victoria Bekiempis (@vicbekiempis) January 22, 2024
Trump arrives at New York courthouse for E Jean Carroll defamation trial
Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of E Jean Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump, where the pair could face off today once again in the Manhattan federal court.
Trump’s motorcade arrived to the courthouse just before 9am ET, where he could be called to the stand to testify just hours before voting commences in the New Hampshire primary.
The former president attended the Manhattan federal court proceedings two days last week including on Wednesday, when the former Elle writer described how his 2019 denials of her rape claim smeared her reputation. Carroll’s testimony marked the first time she confronted him in a courtroom.
Trump’s reaction to Carroll’s testimony was characterized by repeated outbursts, spurring judge Lewis Kaplan to warn that the ex-president would be booted from court if he refused to behave.
This ongoing trial marks Carroll’s second defamation trial against Trump. A jury in May found the former US president liable of sexual abuse and defamation, voting to award Carroll $5m in damages.
Carroll is suing Trump over his June 2019 denials of her rape claim against him. This trial will determine damages.
The trial is expected to get under way at about 9.30am Eastern time.
