Former President Donald Trump attended arguments in a federal appeals court in New York in an attempt to overturn a $5 million judgment against him for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s decision to attend the hearing, which lasted 22 minutes, drew attention to the case as his presidential campaign neared its final sprint. The case is one of two in which federal juries awarded Carroll over $88 million in damages.
In the trial, jurors heard evidence of Carroll’s allegations that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s and defamed her after she made the story public. Trump did not attend the first trial but testified briefly in the second trial, which resulted in an $83 million judgment earlier this year. Trump’s attorneys argued that the judge made flawed and prejudicial evidentiary rulings, including allowing testimony from two of Carroll’s friends who claimed she confided in them about the alleged attack in the 1990s.
Trump’s attorney called the case a ‘he said, she said’ situation and argued that the evidence was implausible. They also contended that two other women who testified should not have been allowed to take the stand. Carroll’s attorney argued that their testimony was essential in establishing a pattern of behavior that aligned with Carroll’s allegations. Trump denied all wrongdoing and called the previous verdict ‘ridiculous,’ insisting that Carroll fabricated the story.
Carroll’s attorneys characterized Trump’s appeal as a request for ‘a do-over’ based on unfairness and error. The hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit panel featured arguments from both sides, with Trump’s lawyers given 10 minutes to present their case. The panel, comprised of judges appointed by former Democratic presidents, is not expected to issue a ruling before the upcoming election, adding further complexity to the legal battle between Trump and Carroll.
Throughout the proceedings, both sides presented their arguments on the admissibility of evidence, witness testimonies, and the credibility of Trump’s statements. Trump’s absence from the first trial and his brief testimony in the second trial were highlighted, along with Carroll’s claims of a pattern of behavior by Trump. The legal battle between Trump and Carroll, which has been ongoing for several years, underscores the challenges faced by individuals seeking justice for allegations of sexual abuse and defamation, particularly against powerful figures like a former president.
