Judge: Trump Liable for Defamation in Carroll Lawsuit

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The Facts

  • On Wednesday, US District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan found Donald Trump liable for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll and allowed jurors to decide how much the former president will need to pay in restitution.

  • Trump will go to trial against Carroll in January 2024 over comments he made in 2019, where he claimed he didn't know her, didn't rape her, and that she wasn't his "type."

  • In a 25-page ruling, Kaplan found that Carroll's pending defamation claims against Trump were the identical statements that a jury had previously determined were defamatory earlier this year.


The Spin

Republican narrative

Wednesday's ruling against Donald Trump is a total miscarriage of justice. The judge is biased, hostile, and out to get Trump. It's ridiculous to continue to add charges against Trump over his assertions that the alleged sexual assault in a public department store nearly 25 years ago never happened and damages need to be capped before the situation gets out of control.


Democratic narrative

E. Jean Carroll already proved that Donald Trump defamed her and sexually assaulted her, so any negative comments about the truth of her claims would count as defamation as well. Earlier verdicts about the same issue should carry over. There's no question about it — Trump defamed Carroll, and now he should pay for the consequences.



Metaculus Prediction




Political split

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RIGHT

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