Trump attends E Jean Carroll appeal arguments in New York – Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump attended a Manhattan courthouse to listen to oral arguments regarding his appeal in a civil case filed by E. Jean Carroll, a columnist who alleges that Trump raped her over three decades ago. The hearing lasted about 25 minutes, focusing on the concerns Trump raised following a jury ruling last year that found him liable for sexual assault and defamation against Carroll, resulting in a $5 million award for her.
John Sauer, former Missouri Solicitor General and Trump’s legal representative, argued that the trial had improperly included “propensity evidence,” which is typically excluded in court. He emphasized the absence of physical evidence or eyewitnesses to support Carroll’s claims. However, the appellate judges appeared skeptical of his arguments, indicating they usually defer to lower courts on evidentiary matters.
Roberta Kaplan, representing Carroll, countered that the evidence rules applied in the case were standard. After the arguments, Trump reiterated his stance that he did not know Carroll and criticized her motivations for bringing the case. This legal battle follows Carroll’s previous lawsuit against Trump, where she secured an $83 million judgment for defamation after he publicly denied her allegations.
Trump attends E Jean Carroll appeal arguments in New York
Former President Donald Trump appeared at a courthouse in Manhattan on Friday to listen in on oral arguments over his appeal in the first civil case brought by former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Trump and Carroll were both present for the arguments, which lasted less than 25 minutes and examined Trump’s concerns with the trial, which took place last year. A jury found at the end of it that Trump was liable for sexual assault and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million.
Former Missouri Solicitor General John Sauer, who has handled appellate matters for Trump, argued before the 2nd U.S. Circuit of Appeals on behalf of the former president, calling the case a “quintessential he-said-she-said.”
Sauer said the case had been improperly bolstered by “propensity evidence,” which is evidence used to demonstrate a person’s character and is typically not allowed in court.
“There is no physical evidence, no eyewitnesses, no DNA, no video, no complaint, no police report, no investigation,” Sauer said.
The judges appeared skeptical of Sauer’s arguments, telling him the appellate court gives “great deference” to the lower court on evidentiary concerns.
Prominent liberal lawyer Roberta Kaplan argued on Carroll’s behalf, saying the rules of evidence applied in the case were “routine.”
Carroll brought the lawsuit after alleging in a memoir in 2019 that Trump raped her three decades ago during a minutes-long encounter at a department store in Manhattan. Trump excoriated Carroll in the months that ensued, saying he never met her and that she was not his “type.”
“She is trying to sell a new book — that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section,” Trump said in a statement at the time.
Trump’s repeated criticism of Carroll led the women’s author to bring a second lawsuit against Trump, accusing him of defaming her. Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled in favor of Carroll in that case, and in January, a jury awarded her $83 million in response to Kaplan’s decision.
Trump spoke at a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City after the oral arguments, reiterating that he had “no idea” who Carroll was and commending Sauer for his performance during the brief oral arguments.
“I think John did a very good job,” Trump said. “You have a matter of minutes to speak. It’s a very complex thing because it was a setup, a rigged deal.”
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