In this courtroom sketch, prospective jurors file into the courtroom as Donald Trump, third left, stands surrounded by his defense team. Alina Habba, fourth left, Trump's lead defense attorney, stands beside him. E. Jean Carroll, background second from right, stands with her attorney Roberta Kaplan, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams)
On Tuesday, Donald Trump expressed frustration during the jury selection for his New York defamation trial, where prospective jurors were informed that a previous jury had concluded that the former president sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Trump, who raised his hand when asked if he felt treated unfairly by the court system, attended the trial after his political win in the Iowa caucuses.
The trial, focusing on the penalty phase of a civil defamation lawsuit brought by Carroll, involves determining the amount, if any, Trump must pay for comments he made about her during his presidency in 2019. The previous trial in May 2022 found that Trump sexually abused Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages.
In this new trial, it is established that Trump “did sexually assault Ms. Carroll,” and the proceedings will concentrate on determining the financial penalty. Trump, flanked by his lawyers, was seated at the defense table, while Carroll and her legal team were located about a dozen feet away.
The day began with a rejected request from Trump’s defense to suspend the trial on Thursday for his attendance at his mother-in-law’s funeral. The judge denied the request, leading to a combative exchange between Trump’s lawyers and the judge over pretrial evidence rulings.
Prospective jurors, about six dozen, were questioned for over an hour, covering topics such as their involvement with the judicial system and their political beliefs. Trump, sitting attentively, nodded at individuals who agreed with his beliefs about the 2020 election and felt he was being treated unfairly by the court system.
The trial, expected to last three to five days, will include testimony beginning on Wednesday. Jurors selected for the trial will remain anonymous for their safety and will be driven to and from the courthouse from an undisclosed location.
Trump, who increasingly integrates his legal challenges into his political narrative, has positioned himself as a victim of partisan entities. He has capitalized on news coverage surrounding his court appearances and has used them as part of his campaign to retake the White House.
In social media posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Carroll’s rape allegation as “attempted EXTORTION” involving “fabricated lies and political shenanigans.” He accused the judge of having “absolute hatred” for him.
Carroll, 80, plans to testify about the impact on her career and reputation resulting from Trump’s public statements. She seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and additional punitive damages.
If Trump testifies, he will be subject to strict limits on what he can say, as the prior verdict prevents him from arguing that he didn’t sexually abuse or defame Carroll.
The former president, who is appealing the previous verdict and hasn’t paid the $5 million award, continues to deny knowing Carroll or meeting her in 1996. He maintains that Carroll fabricated her claims for book sales and political motives.
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