Donald Trump trial: Accuser Carroll gives graphic account on how ‘Trump raped me’

E. Jean Carroll Takes the Stand in Defamation and Battery Lawsuit Against Donald Trump

Writer E. Jean Carroll made a powerful statement in court on Wednesday during the trial over her defamation and battery lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. Carroll, 79, accused Trump of raping her and then denying it, which she says “shattered my reputation.”

A jury of six men and three women will decide if Trump, 76, should be held financially liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in the mid-1990s and defaming her last year by saying on social media that she fabricated the allegation to sell a book. Trump and his legal team deny the allegations and plan to present evidence that Carroll is motivated by animus against Trump and that she waited too long to come forward with her claims.

Carroll testified that she ran into Trump in the mid-90s as she was exiting a department store. They began to talk and had a joking exchange before he asked her for advice on buying a gift. She said Trump suggested they look at lingerie, picked one up, asking her to try it on, adding that she suggested Trump should put it on. Carroll said she was “absolutely enchanted” with the scenario, but things took a dark turn when Trump allegedly suggested they go to a dressing room and then raped her.

Carroll is seeking unspecified damages from Trump. She was able to elevate her defamation claims to include an additional battery claim after New York passed a law that provides adult victims a one-year window to sue their alleged abuser despite the previous statute of limitations barriers.

Trump’s Legal Team Reprimanded by Judge for Social Media Post

Trump’s legal team received a reprimand from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan after Trump posted on social media that the trial was a “scam” and commented on a wealthy Democratic donor who is funding Carroll’s suit. The judge warned that Trump may be tampering with a new source of potential liability.

Key Points:

• E. Jean Carroll accuses Donald Trump of rape and defamation in court
• Jury to decide if Trump should be held financially liable
• Trump denies allegations and plans to present evidence against Carroll
• Carroll seeks unspecified damages from Trump
• Trump’s legal team reprimanded by judge for social media post

Read more about the trial here.