Yesterday marked the 1st time in decades Trump and Carroll were in the same room
From CNN's Kara Scannell and Jeremy Herb
In this courtroom sketch, former President Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll attend jury selection in the second civil trial after Carroll accused Trump of raping her decades ago, at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City, on January 16. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll were in the same room for the first time in decades as court came into session Tuesday for jury selection, in a case to decide how much money in damages Trump must pay Carroll for his 2019 defamatory statements about her sexual assault allegations.
Carroll testified at the first defamation trial last year that she hadn't seen Trump in person in years.
Trump did not attend that trial, but he was in Manhattan federal court for the opening day of this case.
23 min ago
Get caught up on some of the key takeaways from the 1st day of Trump's defamation damages trial
From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Kara Scannell and Lauren del Valle
Lawyer Shawn Crowley opens for her client E. Jean Carroll before Judge Lewis Kaplan in the second civil trial after Carroll accused former President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago, at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City, on January 16. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Donald Trump attended the first day of his civil defamation trial on Tuesday, watching as a jury was selected to determine how much, if any, damages the former president must pay to E. Jean Carroll for his 2019 defamatory statements about Carroll’s sexual assault allegations.
Trump’s courthouse attendance — where he attended jury selection but did not speak — came one day after his resounding Iowa caucuses win, yet another illustration of how Trump’s campaign and legal fortunes are intertwined.
Trump watched as prospective jurors were asked about their political donations to him and his political opponents, whether they believed the 2020 election was stolen and how they got their news. He left court before opening statements to travel to New Hampshire for a campaign event Tuesday evening with the primary one week away.
Carroll's attorney argues for "very significant" damages sum: Carroll’s lawyer Shawn Crowley told the jury Trump’s attacks on her client when he was president “unleashed his followers” and caused her to receive threats. “Trump was president when he made those statements, and he used the world’s biggest microphone to attack Ms. Carroll to humiliate her and to destroy her reputation,” Crowley said. The lawyer argued that the damages awarded to Carroll “should be significant, very significant."
Trump's attorney says Carroll has prospered since the allegations came out: Trump attorney Alina Habba argued that Carroll’s reputation was not harmed by Trump and that her career prospered since she came forward with the sexual assault allegations. Habba told the jury to remember, “This case is not about assault. We had that case. This case is about the defamation.” Carroll waited for the opportune time to publicly share her story to maximize coverage, Trump’s lawyer claimed.
Jurors are familiar with Trump: Two of the prospective jurors said they agreed with Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen. Three potential jurors said they donated to Trump or groups supporting him. All three said that wouldn’t affect their ability to be fair and impartial. None of those prospective jurors were ultimately selected for the trial jury. More than 10 said they’d donated to Biden and other top Democrats. Three prospective jurors said they believe Trump is being treated unfairly by the US court system. A male juror in the gallery stood to answer that question before it was his turn.
What’s next in the trial: Carroll is slated to testify Wednesday in the trial, which is expected to last a few days. Trump’s lawyers have also indicated he plans to testify, although Trump has changed his mind on testifying before in other trials. The judge has limited the testimony in the case to damages and harm, ruling that the jury’s verdict in the first defamation trial will also carry over to this case.
23 min ago
A jury has been selected and the trial is underway — despite Trump's previous efforts to delay
From CNN's Kara Scannell
Former President Donald Trump's defamation trial has started. A jury was selected on Tuesday, with lawyers beginning with opening statements.
But in the lead-up to the trial, Trump has tried to delay the proceedings, and in another motion, tried to use his presidential immunity as a defense.
Catch up on what happened here:
First, he claimed presidential immunity: Trump claimed he could use presidential immunity to defend against the defamation allegation brought by Carroll. The Second Circuit ruled that he could not do that because he waited too long to say he wanted to use it, affirming a decision by the trial court judge.
Then he tried to delay the trial: Donald Trump asked the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to delay the trial after he lost an earlier attempt to use presidential immunity. He said he needed additional time to consider his options, including potentially seeking review by the US Supreme Court. However, a three-member panel of judges denied Trump’s motion in a brief court order without elaborating.
Today: A jury tasked with deciding how much money in damages Donald Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll will hear testimony in the case. Trump —who is toggling between the campaign trail and courtroom again this week — is on trial for his 2019 defamatory statements about her sexual assault allegations.
A judge already found Trump liable: In a separate trial last year, a jury found Trump sexually assaulted Carroll and defamed her in 2022 statements. Judge Lewis Kaplan said that verdict will carry over to this defamation trial, so the trial will be limited to damages.
Who is E. Jean Carroll? Carroll, a former magazine columnist, alleged Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s and then defamed her when he denied her claim. Carroll is seeking more than $10 million in damages.
In this courtroom sketch, former President Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll attend jury selection in the second civil trial after Carroll accused Trump of raping her decades ago, at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City, on January 16. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll were in the same room for the first time in decades as court came into session Tuesday for jury selection, in a case to decide how much money in damages Trump must pay Carroll for his 2019 defamatory statements about her sexual assault allegations.
Carroll testified at the first defamation trial last year that she hadn't seen Trump in person in years.
Trump did not attend that trial, but he was in Manhattan federal court for the opening day of this case.
Lawyer Shawn Crowley opens for her client E. Jean Carroll before Judge Lewis Kaplan in the second civil trial after Carroll accused former President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago, at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City, on January 16. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Donald Trump attended the first day of his civil defamation trial on Tuesday, watching as a jury was selected to determine how much, if any, damages the former president must pay to E. Jean Carroll for his 2019 defamatory statements about Carroll’s sexual assault allegations.
Trump’s courthouse attendance — where he attended jury selection but did not speak — came one day after his resounding Iowa caucuses win, yet another illustration of how Trump’s campaign and legal fortunes are intertwined.
Trump watched as prospective jurors were asked about their political donations to him and his political opponents, whether they believed the 2020 election was stolen and how they got their news. He left court before opening statements to travel to New Hampshire for a campaign event Tuesday evening with the primary one week away.
Carroll's attorney argues for "very significant" damages sum: Carroll’s lawyer Shawn Crowley told the jury Trump’s attacks on her client when he was president “unleashed his followers” and caused her to receive threats. “Trump was president when he made those statements, and he used the world’s biggest microphone to attack Ms. Carroll to humiliate her and to destroy her reputation,” Crowley said. The lawyer argued that the damages awarded to Carroll “should be significant, very significant."
Trump's attorney says Carroll has prospered since the allegations came out: Trump attorney Alina Habba argued that Carroll’s reputation was not harmed by Trump and that her career prospered since she came forward with the sexual assault allegations. Habba told the jury to remember, “This case is not about assault. We had that case. This case is about the defamation.” Carroll waited for the opportune time to publicly share her story to maximize coverage, Trump’s lawyer claimed.
Jurors are familiar with Trump: Two of the prospective jurors said they agreed with Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen. Three potential jurors said they donated to Trump or groups supporting him. All three said that wouldn’t affect their ability to be fair and impartial. None of those prospective jurors were ultimately selected for the trial jury. More than 10 said they’d donated to Biden and other top Democrats. Three prospective jurors said they believe Trump is being treated unfairly by the US court system. A male juror in the gallery stood to answer that question before it was his turn.
What’s next in the trial: Carroll is slated to testify Wednesday in the trial, which is expected to last a few days. Trump’s lawyers have also indicated he plans to testify, although Trump has changed his mind on testifying before in other trials. The judge has limited the testimony in the case to damages and harm, ruling that the jury’s verdict in the first defamation trial will also carry over to this case.
Former President Donald Trump's defamation trial has started. A jury was selected on Tuesday, with lawyers beginning with opening statements.
But in the lead-up to the trial, Trump has tried to delay the proceedings, and in another motion, tried to use his presidential immunity as a defense.
Catch up on what happened here:
First, he claimed presidential immunity: Trump claimed he could use presidential immunity to defend against the defamation allegation brought by Carroll. The Second Circuit ruled that he could not do that because he waited too long to say he wanted to use it, affirming a decision by the trial court judge.
Then he tried to delay the trial: Donald Trump asked the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to delay the trial after he lost an earlier attempt to use presidential immunity. He said he needed additional time to consider his options, including potentially seeking review by the US Supreme Court. However, a three-member panel of judges denied Trump’s motion in a brief court order without elaborating.
