A $10 million defamation case against Donald Trump was launched in a New York courtroom Thursday as the former president attended his mother-in-law’s funeral in Florida — with writer E. Jean Carroll rejecting claims that he has enjoyed the spotlight since accusing her of rape.
“Yes, I’m more known, but I’m hated by more people,” Carroll, 80, testified when Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, berated him about going public with her allegation that Trump forced himself on her in a Bergdorf Goodman dress. room has increased his social “status”.
During 90 minutes of questioning from Habba in Manhattan federal court, Carroll admitted that he enjoyed receiving praise from celebrities such as actress Bette Midler after a separate jury awarded him $5 million last May.
The jury found Trump, 77, liable for sexual abuse and defamation over Carroll’s claim that the real estate mogul forcibly penetrated her with his finger in a 1996 episode — and then lied about it.
Her decision to come forward in June 2019 also earned her invitations to two celebrity-attended parties at Vanity Fair correspondent Molly Jong-Fast’s Manhattan home, Carroll testified.
Carroll, under questioning by Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, insisted that her status had suffered since Trump’s disparaging comments. Reuters
But the veteran “Ask E Jean” advice columnist insists her public status has been “downgraded” because she received hundreds of vile online messages — including threats calling for her imprisonment and rape — after the then-president turned millions of followers on her by falsely claiming at the White House that he doesn’t know who he is.
“I am participating in this trial to regain my old reputation and status,” said Carroll, who wore a white blazer over a brown turtleneck on the witness stand.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan has already found Trump liable for using “malicious intent” to defame Carroll by claiming that he accused her of rape to get “publicity.”
All that remains to be decided in the ongoing week-long trial is how much Trump will be ordered to pay.
Carroll’s lawyers have asked for more than $10 million in compensatory damages, plus millions more in “punitive” damages. Reuters
Carroll’s lawyers have asked a jury of nine New Yorkers to award Carroll more than $10 million to help him repair his reputation, as well as millions more in punitive damages — which the jury is allowed to order to punish Trump rather than continue to disparage Carroll.
Among the evidence presented to jurors Thursday was a video of a press conference Trump gave after he appeared at the hearing the day before.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump again disparaged Carroll as “someone I never knew” and claimed the trial was “rigged” against him.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba has tried to portray Carroll as someone who has enjoyed the spotlight after accusing Trump of rape. AFP via Getty Images
“How much money will it take to make him stop? Because he didn’t stop,” Carroll’s attorney Shawn Crowley told jurors during opening statements Tuesday.
“We argue that the amount should be significant. Very important,” added Crowley.
“Donald Trump, however, is a self-proclaimed billionaire.”
Trump was acquitted of rape claims at last year’s trial after a jury was “unconvinced” that he penetrated Carroll with his penis – but Carroll’s claim that Trump “raped” her is still “largely true” in the sense of how people think about rape today, according to Judge Kaplan.
The ongoing trial will not be held on Friday, but is expected to end early next week.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
