President Donald Trump, a figure synonymous with American resilience, is again standing tall in the face of adversity. Not a stranger to legal battles, Trump has now turned the tables on E. Jean Carroll, a writer who previously attacked him in court. The former president, accused by Carroll of an alleged improper event from decades ago, now charges her with defamation for comments she made after the recent trial.
In the case that concluded last month, Trump was deemed liable by a Manhattan jury for an encounter with Carroll. Still, notably, the jury acquitted him of the graver accusation of physical assault. Despite this legal conclusion, Carroll later appeared on a television show, undermining the verdict by insisting the contrary was true. Responding to these post-trial remarks, the former president’s lawsuit states, “In response to that specific inquiry, Counterclaim Defendant Carroll disregarded the jury’s finding and replied: ‘Oh yes he did, oh yes he did.’”
OUCH: President Trump is suing E. Jean Carroll after a jury found that she was lying about her claims that the former president raped her more than two decades earlier. https://t.co/n11b6AIoVr
— @amuse (@amuse) June 28, 2023
Trump’s legal team, composed of seasoned professionals Alina Habba and Michael Madaio, highlights the damage Carroll’s continued allegations have inflicted on Trump’s reputation. They argue that her “repeated falsehoods and defamatory statements” are responsible for “an inordinate amount of damages sustained as a result.”
Given the public nature of the accusations and the potential harm to Trump’s standing, especially considering his status as a 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, the lawsuit seeks to rectify this through several avenues. Carroll is demanded to “retract her defamatory statements,” the legal team is calling for compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and further relief deemed just and proper by the court.
In a post-verdict interview, Trump communicated his lack of familiarity with Carroll, stating that he has “absolutely no idea who this woman is.” The former president, known for his straightforward approach, didn’t mince words about the verdict, calling it “a disgrace” and a continuation of the “greatest political witch hunt in history.”
Trump’s legal initiative echoes his resilient character. The former president says Carroll’s statements were made “with actual malice and ill will with an intent to significantly and spitefully harm and attack” his reputation.
Meanwhile, Carroll’s legal representation, Robbie Kaplan, dismissed Trump’s move as a “delay tactic.” Kaplan pointed out that Trump’s counterclaim involves statements “made outside of New York’s one-year statute of limitations.” Yet Trump remains steadfast in denying Carroll’s allegations, maintaining he never defamed her because he was telling the truth.
