As jury selection is set to commence, a judge rejected Donald Trump’s request on Tuesday to pause the defamation trial, which originated from columnist E. Jean Carroll’s allegations of sexual abuse in the 1990s.
Trump sought a one-day suspension to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral later in the week. The denial occurred amid a contentious exchange between Trump’s lawyers and Judge Lewis A. Kaplan regarding trial proceedings, evidence, and Trump’s desire to attend the funeral.
This trial marks the penalty phase of a civil defamation case resulting from Carroll’s claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room. A previous trial in May found Trump guilty, awarding Carroll $5 million. While Trump did not attend that trial, he appeared on Tuesday after his recent political victory at the Iowa caucus.
Trump’s attorney, Michael Madaio, criticized the judge for allegedly making inconsistent and unfair rulings against Trump before the trial began. Madaio argued that these rulings hampered their defense strategies. He also contended that, given Trump’s appeal of the initial verdict, the trial should not proceed.
Another attorney, Alina Habba, requested an adjournment on Thursday for the funeral of Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs. The judge, however, insisted that the trial would continue and offered Trump the opportunity to testify on Monday, even if the trial concludes by Thursday.
Trump arrived for the trial early in the morning, having won the Iowa caucus shortly before. Opening arguments were expected in what is essentially the second penalty phase of the legal battle that Carroll previously won.
In the May trial, a jury concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll in 1996 and defamed her in 2022 by dismissing her claims as fabrications. The jury did not find evidence that Trump raped Carroll. The new jury’s sole task is to determine the amount Trump owes for comments made during his presidency.
Judge Kaplan ruled that the new jury need not reconsider allegations of sexual abuse or defamation, as those were addressed in the first trial. Despite Trump’s appeal, he has not paid the $5 million awarded in the initial trial, placing it in escrow pending the appeal’s outcome.
The trial is anticipated to span several days, with Trump planning to testify. The judge has imposed strict limits on the topics Trump can discuss. While Trump refrains from making certain claims in the jury’s presence, he continues to address these matters on social media, potentially affecting the damages he might be required to pay.
Trump’s request to delay the trial was denied, and the proceedings are set to continue, showcasing the legal challenges Trump faces amid his political aspirations for the 2024 presidential primary.
