Former president Donald Trump's latest move has dominated headlines in recent news. Following a historic defamation case that left Trump accountable for accusations of sexual abuse, he has now posted a $91.6 million bond to appeal the verdict. However, showing no signs of retreat, Trump continues to defame writer E. Jean Carroll.
At a recent rally in Georgia last Saturday, the former president launched a series of attacks on Carroll, her team of lawyers, and the presiding judge over the case. According to Trump, this lawsuit springs from political motivation rather than a quest for justice. He has posited that it is funded and driven by "Democratic Operatives."
Trump's Assertion - A Political Setup?
"Fake story...totally made up story," Trump declared as he addressed his supporters regarding the case. "The accusations made against me come from a woman about whom I know absolutely nothing," Trump continued.
He further disparaged the judicial system and Carroll's legal representatives, stating, "Her lawyers are nothing more than Democratic operatives. The judge was a disaster. They're the ones who funded and directed her; they provided her with the money to pursue the case."
Ongoing Defamation Despite Damages Awarded
Familiar statements from the ex-president echo accusations that he has repeatedly made. These assertions previously landed Trump with an $83 million bill. He was judicially mandated to pay this staggering sum to Carroll. This order followed her coming forward with accusations that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.
Two separate juries in New York ruled in favor of Carroll, granting her hefty damages for defamation caused by Trump's statements. Last spring, Trump was found liable for both sexual abuse and defamation following his denial of allegations. Consequently, he labeled Carroll a "hoax" and a "con job." This resulted in Carroll being awarded a sum of $5m.
Further, in January, yet another jury declared Trump liable for additional defamatory statements. They then awarded Carroll a breathtaking $83m. The jury's primary task was to discern the amount Trump was responsible for paying Carroll, given that a previous jury had already found him liable for abuse.
The Unrelenting Defamation Continues
Even with the mounting legal and monetary repercussions, Trump continues his defamatory tirade against Carroll. Addressing his supporters on Saturday, he labeled the judge overseeing the case, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, as "highly corrupt" and "a federal Democrat Trump-deranged judge."
In Trump's words, "His name is Lewis Kaplan- an angry man. He screamed at my lawyer."
During the trial, though Judge Kaplan expressed frustration with both Trump's and Carroll's legal teams, he was not "screaming" in the courtroom.
These aggressive tactics employed against the prosecuting party or presiding judge are not new for Trump. This approach often characterizes his defense during one of his many criminal or civil trials.
