E. Jean Carroll took the witness stand on Wednesday morning in her defamation trial against Donald Trump, marking the first time she confronted the ex-president in a courtroom. Trump's reactions during Carroll's testimony led to numerous outbursts, prompting the judge to issue warnings about potential expulsion from the court.
Carroll's testimony centered on her accusation that Donald Trump assaulted her, and when she wrote about it, he denied its occurrence, thereby damaging her reputation. Trump's visible discontent during the proceedings prompted Carroll's lawyer, Shawn Crowley, to note that he loudly expressed his defamatory denials.
Amid audible complaints from Trump, Judge Lewis Kaplan cautioned him to lower his voice during discussions with counsel to prevent the jury from overhearing. Despite the warning, Trump continued making statements that were reportedly disruptive, leading the judge to contemplate potential exclusion from the trial.
Carroll, in her second defamation trial against Trump, is suing over his June 2019 denials of her rape claim. The trial aims to determine the extent of damages for Carroll.
Trump's platform was used to tarnish E. Jean Carroll’s name, as evidenced in this week's proceedings, marking her second defamation trial against Trump. In May, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a $5 million damages award for Carroll.
Carroll alleges that Trump raped her almost three decades ago, and her public revelation of the incident in 2019 led to a series of denials and attacks from Trump, damaging her reputation and prompting legal action.
During her testimony, Carroll recounted the aftermath of Trump's denials, highlighting the threats she received and the measures she took to protect herself, including acquiring a pit bull and keeping a gun by her bed.
Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, addressed Trump's continued statements about her even after the previous trial's verdict, emphasizing the need for the jury to determine damages that would deter him from making further defamatory remarks.
The trial also touched on themes such as the deletion of threats and attempted discrediting of Carroll by Trump's legal team. Alina Habba, Trump's lead attorney, cross-examined Carroll on various aspects, including the registration status of her protective gun.
Habba's cross-examination is set to resume on Thursday. Carroll's ability to sue Trump for sexual assault was made possible by New York state's Adult Survivors Act in 2022, allowing victims a one-year window to bring claims outside the civil statute of limitations. The trial's conclusion will require the jury to decide on damages that would discourage Trump from further defaming Carroll.