E. Jean Carroll can amend her legal complaint against Donald Trump, judge says: Former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictment was not the only bad legal news for the ex-president this week. He’s also facing further potential liability in the case involving E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusation against him.
Donald Trump Is In Even More Legal Jeopardy
Back in May, a jury in New York found that former President Donald Trump had sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll, a well-known journalist who had accused Trump of raping her in a department store in the 1990s. The jury did not find that Trump had raped Carroll but did award Carroll $5 million between the two counts.
The following night, Trump appeared for his now-infamous town hall on CNN, Trump was asked about the verdict and referred to Carroll as a “whack job,” also stating that “I have no idea who this woman – this is a fake story, made up story.”
Soon after that, Carroll’s lawyers alleged that the statement meant that Trump had defamed Carroll again, and requested to amend her complaint against Trump.
Now, Carroll has been granted permission to do so.
According to CNBC, the judge in the case has agreed to Carroll’s request to amend her original complaint to include the remarks Trump made on national television.
“We look forward to moving ahead expeditiously on E. Jean Carroll’s remaining claims,” Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan told the press after the ruling.
“We maintain that she should not be permitted to retroactively change her legal theory, at the eleventh hour, to avoid the consequences of an adverse finding against her,” Alina Habba, a Trump attorney, told CNBC.
The ruling came the same week that Trump appeared in court in Miami to answer charges in the 37-count federal indictment involving his handling of classified information. This is in addition to his previous indictment in state court in New York, as well as at least two other cases in which further charges are possible.
That raises questions about how the different legal cases will affect Trump’s pursuit of a return to the presidency. There is the logical question, as the New York trial is scheduled for next March, right in the middle of the primary season, and Trump could also face trial in the documents case prior to the 2024 election.
The evidence so far appears to show Trump’s legal troubles giving him support among Republican voters. However, the mounting legal jeopardy could come back to harm Trump in a general election, especially if there remains a possibility that he could go to prison.
Meanwhile, per the New York Times, after Trump’s plea of not guilty on Tuesday, Trump’s codefendant Walt Nauta is scheduled to appear in court on June 27.
“The parties will begin a slow but steady rhythm of status conferences, meeting every couple of months in court as the government starts to provide evidence to the defense through what is known as the discovery process,” the Times said of the case. “That evidence will help Mr. Trump’s lawyers decide what motions they plan to file in attacking the charges against him.”
Trump also must determine which lawyers will represent him in the case after two of his attorneys quit the case on the day the indictment was announced. And the Times reported that while the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith will likely attempt to try the case prior to the presidential election, Trump’s team will probably try to push it back.
“They want to take away my FREEDOM because I will never let them take away your FREEDOM. They are not coming after me. They are coming after you. I just happen to be standing in their way, and I will NEVER be moving,” Trump said on Truth Social, quoting his speech from that same day. “On November 5th, 2024, JUSTICE will be done. We will take back our Country, and we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Expertise and Experience: Stephen Silver is a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive. He is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.
From 19FortyFive
Donald Trump Is Starting to Scare Everyone
