The legal battle comes a day after a jury held Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll.
Former President Donald Trump and writer E. Jean Carroll have filed defamation lawsuits against each other following their interviews on CNN
In her interview, Carroll reiterated her accusation that Trump raped her, which she has consistently maintained over the years, including during their recent civil trial. Trump’s attorney argued that Carroll’s statements in the interview defamed him, leading to his counterclaim against her.
During the same day, Trump appeared at a CNN town hall where he referred to Carroll as a “whack job” and accused her of fabricating the allegations. This prompted Carroll to increase her defamation claim against Trump to $10 million, amending the lawsuit she initially filed in 2019.
Trump’s counterclaim revolves around Carroll’s response in the interview when she was asked about the jury’s verdict, stating, “Oh yes he did. Oh yes, he did.” Seeking a rejection of Carroll’s claim and unspecified additional damages, Trump’s complaint also demands a retraction.
Responding to Trump’s counterclaim, Carroll’s attorney, Robbie Kaplan, dismissed it as baseless, stating that Trump’s filing is an attempt to evade accountability for the jury’s findings of defamation against him. In May, a federal jury in New York City held Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse but not for rape.
Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages, a decision that Trump is currently appealing
The lawsuit originated from an encounter Carroll described as happening in the mid-1990s when she crossed paths with Trump at a high-end department store. Initially, the interaction appeared friendly, but Carroll alleged that Trump turned violent, pushing her against a wall in a dressing room and inserting his hand into her vagina. During the trial, her lawyers argued that the incident aligned with Trump’s pattern of behavior, citing witnesses who claimed Carroll confided in them. The jury also viewed the “Access Hollywood” video where Trump made explicit comments about grabbing women.
In addition to appealing the verdict and seeking a new trial, Trump argued that the damages awarded by the jury were excessively high. The legal dispute between Trump and Carroll continues to unfold as both parties defend their positions in court.