Former President Donald Trump expressed his frustration on Wednesday regarding the defamation lawsuit filed against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. This came a day after the Department of Justice (DOJ) abandoned its three-year effort to shield Trump from Carroll’s claims.
Taking to his social media platform, Trump wrote, “The DOJ will not defend me in the E. Jean Carroll civil case, which is all part of the political Witch Hunt, lawyered up by apolitical operative who I just beat in another case, financed by a big political funder, and ‘judged’ by a Clinton appointee who truly hates ‘TRUMP.'”
Trump further criticized the civil case, stating, “The Carroll civil case against me is a Miscarriage of Justice and a total Scam.”
Carroll has filed two civil suits against Trump in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, both stemming from alleged defamatory statements he made while denying her rape accusation, which she claims occurred in the mid-1990s in a New York department store dressing room.
The second suit, concluded this spring, resulted in a jury awarding Carroll $5 million in damages for Trump’s defamation. However, the jury did not find Trump liable for rape.
The first suit, which pertains to Trump’s 2019 statements while he was still president, is scheduled for trial in January.
The DOJ had previously argued that Trump should be replaced as a defendant in the first suit, contending that as president, he should be represented by the U.S. government. This argument stalled the lawsuit for almost three years.
However, the DOJ abandoned its pursuit on Tuesday, citing a recent appeals court decision and other factors. This decision allows Carroll’s case to move forward, potentially leading to additional monetary damages against Trump.
Trump, who is currently the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, faces the possibility of another jury determining his liability for defamation. He maintained his innocence, writing, “The statements that I made about Carroll are all true. I didn’t Rape her (I won that at trial) and other than for this case, I have NO IDEA WHO SHE IS, WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE, OR ANYTHING ABOUT HER….”
Trump criticized the fairness of the previous trial, claiming bias from the judge and asserting that his side was unjustly restricted. He announced his intention to appeal the jury verdict, which he deemed a “travesty of justice.”
Requests for comment from Carroll’s legal team regarding Trump’s latest statements are pending. As this legal battle unfolds, it adds a new layer of complexity to Trump’s potential presidential aspirations.
