Former President Donald Trump arrived at a federal court in New York today for a trial to determine damages in the defamation case brought against him by E. Jean Carroll. This marks a significant moment as it will be the first time that both parties come face to face in years. The courtroom is now preparing for jury selection, set to begin shortly.
The judge overseeing the case is known for expeditious proceedings, and it is anticipated that the jury will be seated by the end of the morning session. This would potentially allow for opening statements to be presented later today. The order of presentation will see E. Jean Carroll's legal team go first, followed by Donald Trump's defense.
It is important to note that the purpose of this trial is not to establish whether or not defamation occurred. The judge has already made a ruling based on a previous verdict, determining that Donald Trump indeed defamed E. Jean Carroll. The primary matter at hand for the jury is to determine the appropriate amount of damages Trump should pay to Carroll for the harm caused.
E. Jean Carroll is seeking more than $10 million in damages, which includes punitive damages. The request for punitive damages stems from Trump's alleged repetition of defamatory statements, even after the initial verdict was reached last year. This trial aims to hold Trump accountable for continuing to make these statements.
The question of whether or not Donald Trump will take the stand as a witness remains uncertain. Carroll is expected to testify, but Trump's attorneys have expressed a desire for him to testify as well. The judge, however, has already made it clear that witnesses can only discuss the alleged sexual assault or the defamation incident. Trump will not be permitted to deny the assault or claim that he did not know Carroll, as those matters have already been established.
The judge will ultimately decide what topics Trump can address if he does testify. Trump's legal team argues that he should be allowed to speak on his state of mind at the time of the alleged incident. While this decision is yet to be made, the focus for now is on jury selection, which is set to begin shortly, followed by opening statements later today.
As the trial progresses, it will undoubtedly shed light on the intricacies of this defamation case, revealing new details and perspectives. The outcome will have significant implications for both Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll as they await the jury's decision on the damages to be awarded.
