Washington [US], January 17: Leaving Iowa, former US President Donald Trump on January 16 (US time) appeared in court in New York City (New York state) on charges of defaming former journalist E. Jean Carroll in 2019 after she accused him of raping her. upset myself many years ago.
Former President Trump sat at the defense table and witnessed Ms. E. Jean Carroll 's lawyer present to the jury that Mr. Trump in 2019 made her life miserable when she went public with the story of his attack. Worked in a dressing room in a Manhattan shopping district around 1996.
"He used the world's largest microphone (as US President) to attack Ms. Carroll, humiliate her and destroy her reputation," Reuters quoted lawyer Shawn Crowley as saying.
Ms. Carroll, 81 years old, asked Mr. Trump to compensate for losses of at least $10 million in a civil trial at the time Mr. Trump ran for re-election as US President.
In a trial on May 9, 2023, the jury concluded that former President Trump must pay $5 million in damages for sexually abusing and then defaming Ms. Carroll.
Therefore, in the trial on January 16, the jury will only consider the amount of money Mr. Trump must compensate Ms. Carroll, not the issue of whether the attack happened or not, or whether Mr. Trump lied. about that.
And lawyer Alina Habba representing Mr. Trump said that Ms. Carroll sought to attract attention after releasing her memoir and accused Mr. Trump of raping her.
Mr. Trump, 78 years old, said he wanted to testify.
Trial judge Lewis Kaplan rejected Mr. Trump's argument that he did not defame or attack Ms. Carroll, or that she was just making up a story.
On the social network Truth Social, Mr. Trump attacked Ms. Carroll, writing "can you trust me to defend against this woman's false story?".
After leaving court, Mr. Trump went to the northeastern state of New Hampshire , which is preparing to hold the Republican primary election on January 23. He just won big in Iowa in the opening event of the 2024 US election year.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper