2023-05-10 03:11:00
Donald Trump has to pay a plaintiff several million euros in compensation for a sexual assault. The ex-president speaks of a “shame”.
the essentials in brief
- Trump is angry about the abuse verdict in NY and wants to appeal.
- The plaintiff side is satisfied: “Today the world finally learned the truth.”
- It will soon become clear whether the verdict will have an impact on the 2024 election.
A woman has accused Donald Trump of rape in a luxury department store in a civil case. She gets the jury right – but not completely. The allegation of rape was dismissed. Trump has to pay the woman five million in compensation for sexual assault in the mid-1990s and defamation.
As expected, the ex-president, who always denied the allegations, reacted “poltrigally” to the jury’s decision on Tuesday. On the “Truth Social” platform he co-founded, the American wrote: “This verdict is a shame.” Trump spoke of a “continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time”.
“I have absolutely no idea who this woman is,” he said, referring to author and plaintiff E. Jean Carroll. In one of the numerous videos that Donald Trump published after the verdict, he also mentioned that he would appeal the jury’s decision. “We have to fight this stuff somehow. We cannot let our country plunge into this abyss.”
Trump’s lawyer announced shortly after leaving the courtroom: “He is ready to continue. He will fight it with an appeal.” Joseph Tacopina also welcomed the dismissal of the civil rape suit. However, he described the judgment as “inconsistent” – the court was also biased.
Plaintiff: “Wanted to clear my name!”
The plaintiffs were satisfied with the outcome of the civil proceedings. Author E. Jean Carroll called the jury’s decision a victory for her and other abuse victims.
A statement said: “I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and get my life back.” And further: “Today the world is finally learning the truth. This victory is not just for me, but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.”
Carroll’s lawyer emphasized when leaving the courthouse in New York: “We are very satisfied! No one is above the law, not even a former President of the United States.”
Verdict could affect Donald Trump’s election
The verdict in E. Jean Carroll’s case against Donald Trump does not have any legal implications for the latter’s presidential candidacy. But the decades-old allegations, some of which have now been confirmed by a jury, could have an impact on the election. This is shown by the statements made by some of Trump’s influential party colleagues.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer spoke of a “serious problem”. The North Dakota politician said that while the verdict was “not a disqualification for the American people,” it impacted Trump’s eligibility. “That story and a few other things make me question whether he would be the best candidate for the party.”
Opinion poll
Will Donald Trump be President of the United States again in 2024?
Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has long been critical of the former president, said he hopes the ruling will lead people to conclude he is unfit for the office.
Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate Republican representing a district won by President Joe Biden, said Trump “got what he deserved.” Bacon had already announced that he would not support Trump in the 2024 election.
U.S. Civil Procedures Statement
In civil trials, there is a lower threshold for a guilty verdict than in criminal trials: in civil law, such a threshold means that the jurors consider an act to be more likely than unlikely. In criminal proceedings, on the other hand, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. E. Jean Carroll’s rape allegations were statute-barred.
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#Donald #Trump #convicted #abuse #shame