In a decisive legal blow to Donald Trump, a federal appeals court has unequivocally rejected the former President's attempt to throw out a defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The ruling paves the way for a high-profile jury trial scheduled for January 2024.
A Landmark Legal Setback
The Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York delivered a succinct, one-sentence order, upholding a previous lower court decision. This marks a critical failure in Trump's legal strategy to evade accountability for comments he made while in office, denying Carroll's rape allegation and suggesting she fabricated her account to promote a memoir.
The Core of the Allegations
E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, alleges that Donald Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. She first publicly made the claim in a 2019 book excerpt. Trump's vehement denials, including statements that Carroll was "not my type," form the basis of her defamation suit, arguing his comments damaged her reputation and career.
What This Ruling Means
This appeal dismissal is a pivotal moment in the long-running case. The court's refusal to grant Trump immunity for statements made during his presidency significantly narrows his potential defences. The Justice Department had previously argued that he was acting in an official capacity when he denied the allegations, a claim now soundly rejected by the judiciary.
The Road to January
With this appellate hurdle cleared, the case is now firmly on track for a jury trial on January 15, 2024. This proceeding will solely focus on determining the damages Carroll is owed for Trump's defamatory statements. A separate civil trial in May already found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a related case, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages.
This upcoming trial promises to be a major event, ensuring that legal troubles for the former President will remain squarely in the public eye as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.
