Second defamation trial: Trump again rejects accusations “He was actually almost in tears”: Josef Fritzl remains in custody

Former US President Donald Trump has spoken out in the second defamation trial against him by American author E. Jean Carroll. According to consistent media reports, Trump said he never wanted to hurt the author as he was questioned for about five minutes by lawyers from both sides in court in Manhattan on Thursday.

“I wanted to defend myself, my family and, quite frankly, the presidency.” In addition, Trump, who was called as a defense witness by his lawyer Alina Habba, reiterated that he rejected Carroll’s allegations.

Both parties had previously explained their positions again and interviewed witnesses. Trump’s lawyers had also again called for a halt to the proceedings, but Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected this. The trial was postponed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday due to several cases of illness. According to Judge Kaplan, the proceedings could be completed as early as Friday and handed over to the jury.

This is Carroll’s second trial against Trump

This is the 80-year-old Carroll’s second lawsuit against Trump. At the end of the first trial in May, a New York jury found it proven that Trump had assaulted Carroll in a luxury New York department store in 1996, sexually assaulted him and later defamed him. The jury subsequently awarded the writer five million dollars in damages.

Because she also deemed Trump’s subsequent comments to be defamatory, Carroll then sued again. Even before the start of the second trial, Judge Kaplan agreed with her and ruled that further comments by Trump were defamatory. The jury now only has to decide on the amount of damages that the ex-president must pay to the woman. Carroll is asking for more than $10 million.

A judicial process as a phase of an election campaign

Trump had already appeared in person several times in the second trial – unlike the first, where he was completely absent – ​​and attracted attention through numerous comments, which is why the judge had already threatened to expel him.

The 77-year-old is considered the Republicans’ most promising candidate in the presidential elections in November. However, he is currently dealing with the courts in many different cases. Trump often uses the court data as a kind of campaign appearance.

(hah/sda/dpa)