Former President Donald Trump recently testified in his own defense at the civil defamation damages trial related to the lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll. Carroll has accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s, an allegation that Trump has consistently denied.
During his testimony, Trump was posed three questions by his defense team. He affirmed that he had watched his deposition played in court, stood by the statements made in the deposition, and denied ever threatening Carroll in his tweets and social media posts. Trump emphasized that his public remarks were in defense against what he considered a false allegation.
Trump’s testimony came amid ongoing legal proceedings where he and his legal team have repeatedly refuted Carroll’s claims. The former president, in previous statements to Fox News Digital, has maintained that he has no recollection of ever meeting Carroll. Trump’s initial reaction to Carroll’s allegation included the suggestion that she was using the accusation to promote her book.
Carroll, 79, has alleged that the incident with Trump took place at the Bergdorf Goodman department store near Trump Tower in Manhattan around 1996. A federal jury in New York City previously found Trump not liable for rape but liable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay $5 million.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump shared images of Carroll’s past tweets and criticized her legal representation, accusing her attorney of being a radical left operative and of coaching Carroll. He also claimed that Carroll’s narrative regarding the timing of the alleged incident had been inconsistent and dismissed the accusation as an attempt at extortion.
The trial, presided over by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, continues to draw significant attention, highlighting the contentious and high-profile nature of the legal battle between Trump and Carroll. Trump’s emphatic defense in court underscores the complexity of the case and its implications in the broader context of his public and political life.