Donald Trump’s defamation trial concludes Friday in New York, highlighting the unparalleled scandal and legal hurdles surrounding the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Far from concealing his numerous legal issues, Trump has transformed courtroom proceedings into quasi-campaign events, saying that each trial is part of a Democratic establishment effort to prevent his return to the White House for a second term.
E. Jean Carroll, a writer, is suing Trump for more than $10 million in damages for defamation in a federal court in New York, where the court may only impose a financial punishment rather than a criminal conviction.
Both sides begin their closing arguments on Friday, and the jury will deliberate on the matter at an unspecified date.
The 77-year-old Trump, who was convicted liable for Carroll’s sexual assault in a separate federal civil case in New York, testified briefly Thursday, denying that he authorized anybody to damage Carroll with his words.
Judge Lewis Kaplan limited Trump’s testimony Thursday to three questions from his lawyers, to which he may only answer yes or no in order to keep him on track with the case.
“She says something I considered false,” Trump began to say before Kaplan cut him off.
“This is not America,” Trump said as he left the courtroom following his short appearance.
Trump faces various criminal charges, including an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden, as well as a civil fraud lawsuit.
Earlier this week, the Republican ex-president launched a barrage of attacks on Carroll, using his Truth Social platform to malign her and deny the legitimacy of her proof over 37 tweets.
Carroll, 80, claims that Trump defamed her in 2019, when she first revealed her assault charges, by claiming she “is not my type.”
Trump insults
When asked last week how the comment had harmed her reputation, Carroll stated, “Previously I was known simply as a journalist, and now I’m known as a liar, a fraud, and a whack job” — citing comments levied at her by the 2024 White House aspirant.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, sought to dismiss the case on Thursday, claiming that threatening statements targeting Carroll, which are featured in the case, began on social media prior to Trump’s 2019 comments. Her request was refused.
Jurors were given Trump’s October 2022 deposition, in which he mistook a picture of Carroll for his former wife Marla Maples, calling into question his assertion Carroll was not his “type.”
There were tense moments in court last week when Carroll testified just a few rows from where Trump sat.
Carroll’s legal team alleged that Trump was making audible comments regarding her testimony, which may influence jurors.
The court requested Donald Trump lower his voice while talking with his legal staff, and later threatened to kick him out completely.
Last year, another federal jury found Trump responsible for sexually abusing Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996 and then defaming her in 2022, calling her a “complete con job.”
Trump had been in court while campaigning for the New Hampshire primary, when he easily defeated his sole remaining competitor, Nikki Haley, as he moves closer to being the Republican nominee in the November election against Biden.