In a New York courthouse on Wednesday, the woman whom Donald Trump was found guilty of sexually assaulting confronted the former president, claiming he had damaged her reputation as a result.
Eighty-year-old E. Jean Carroll is suing for more than ten million dollars, claiming that in 2019, shortly after coming public with her assault allegation, Trump defamed her by declaring she “is not my type.”
Carroll told the court, “It means I’m too ugly to assault.” Carroll responded to a question about how the remark affected her reputation by saying, “Previously I was known simply as a journalist, and now I’m known as a liar, a fraud, and a whack job”—quoting derogatory remarks made by Trump.
Just a few seats away from Trump, Carroll gave evidence in court, creating uncomfortable times.
CNN stated that Carroll’s legal team expressed dissatisfaction over Trump’s audible remarks regarding her evidence and the possibility of jurors being swayed.
When Trump was speaking with his legal team, the judge in the civil case requested that he speak quietly. The judge allegedly stated, “Mr. Trump has the right to be present. That right can be forfeited.” “I understand you’re probably eager for me to do that.”
Trump retorted, “I would love it.” Before, Judge Lewis Kaplan sternly reprimanded Trump’s attorney Alina Habba for objecting to a response from Carroll. Kaplan told Habba that “when you speak in this courtroom or any courtroom in this building you’ll stand up,” CNN said.
As he tries to use several court lawsuits against him to energize fans in the lead-up to next week’s New Hampshire primary and his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump was in court for the second day.
Carroll stated during the trial that she was there “to stop him from telling lies about me.” Trump reportedly shook his head at Carroll’s accusation that he had assaulted her, according to CNN.
The trial is distinct from one that took place in New York last year, when a different jury convicted Trump guilty of sexually abusing Carroll in a department shop dressing room in 1996 and then defaming her in 2022 by calling her a “complete con job.”
As he approaches the November election to face President Joe Biden as the Republican nominee, Trump has been in court while also preparing for the New Hampshire primary.
