In the federal civil trial against former President Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll concluded her testimony by expressing that her status had been diminished since she filed a lawsuit against Trump. Carroll alleged that Trump had raped her, and last year a jury found him guilty of sexual abuse and defamation for denying the attack. The ongoing trial aims to determine the amount of damages Trump should pay Carroll.
During the trial, Carroll's attorneys presented a witness who testified about the harm caused by Trump's defamatory statements and the cost of repairing her reputation. This witness, a reputational expert, calculated that it would require between $7.2 million and $12.1 million to restore Carroll's reputation, excluding potential punitive damages or emotional harm. When Carroll initially filed the lawsuit, her team sought more than $10 million in damages. This figure now provides them with a potential upper limit of at least $12 million for one aspect of their claim.
Trump's attorneys, however, questioned Carroll's motives and emphasized her declining salary in recent years compared to her peak earning period while working for Elle magazine. They suggested that Carroll decided to write a book about Trump's attack on her after her career had fizzled out, implying that she had profited from Trump's denial of her accusations.
The defense's strategy of highlighting Carroll's past career and alleged profit from the accusations may be seen as risky. The crux of the case lies in the reputational damage suffered by Carroll. Trump, both as a civilian and as the President of the United States, publicly called her a liar over 26 times, resulting in death threats and significant harm to her reputation.
Carroll's legal team has repeatedly played videos for the jury, featuring Trump's disparaging comments about her, as well as excerpts from the infamous Access Hollywood tape in which Trump made vulgar remarks about grabbing women. By doing so, they aim to establish that Trump habitually makes defamatory statements about women intentionally and with malice. This strategy not only focuses on seeking compensatory damages but also on obtaining punitive damages as a form of deterrence.
The potential impact of the Access Hollywood tape on the jury's decision cannot be understated. Its inflammatory nature and the evidence it presents of Trump's mindset concerning women could sway the jury in favor of Carroll, possibly resulting in substantial damages awarded beyond the initially sought $10 million.
The trial continues with Carroll's former boss at Elle magazine expected to testify. Additionally, the question of whether Trump himself will testify in the case remains undecided. If he chooses to testify, it has been arranged for him to do so on Monday.
