Even though Trump lost his first libel case against the author Carroll, he continues to insult his victim. Now that could be expensive.
The second libel trial of author E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump has started in New York. But even before the trial began, Trump had the author on social media – that could now have further legal consequences.
The trial began in a Manhattan court with the selection of a nine-member jury. Carroll also came in person and – in contrast to Trump, who left the building again during the lunch break – stayed through the opening arguments of both sides in the afternoon until the end of the court hearing. Both Carrol and Trump initially only spoke through their lawyers.
Trump portrays himself as a victim
In return, Trump lashed out violently on his social media site “Truth Social” – both against the victim and against the process itself. This is just a politically motivated “witch hunt” orchestrated by “radical left-wing Democrats” to prevent him from becoming president. He had never seen the victim and her allegations were lies that she was spreading in order to “extort” money from him. Trump also shared screenshots of tweets in which Caroll had discussed sex in the past. With this, Trump is trying to discredit the author’s credibility.
But a New York jury had already found it proven in May that Trump had attacked Carroll in a luxury New York department store in 1996, sexually abused him and later slandered him. The jury then awarded the writer compensation of five million dollars (around 4.65 million euros). Trump never appeared at this first trial himself, and his presence was not mandatory at the start of the second trial.
It’s at least $10 million
Before the start of the second trial, a judge had ruled that further comments by Trump were defamatory. The jury now only has to decide on the amount of compensation that the ex-president must pay to the woman. Carroll is asking for more than $10 million. However, due to the renewed attacks against Caroll, this amount could even increase again.
In her opening statement, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba repeated Trump’s allegations that Caroll wanted to enrich herself from her client. The amount of attention the processes brought to her also gave her career new impetus. Carroll’s attorney, Shawn Crowley, argued that the large sum was justified because his client lives in fear every day of the hatred and threats she receives from Trump supporters.
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Trump is considered the Republicans’ most promising candidate in the November presidential election. However, he currently has to deal with the courts in numerous different cases. The 77-year-old often uses the court dates as a kind of election campaign event, which has already earned him criticism from several judges.
It was initially not clear whether the ex-president would also want to be present during the further course of the trial. A deposition from Carroll is scheduled for today.
