2023-05-09 22:32:13
The jury deliberated for less than three hours. The nine jurors in this civil trial unanimously found that Donald Trump was responsible for having sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s, in the fitting room of a New York department store, and that he had then defamed the ex-columnist. The former president will have to pay him a total of 5 million dollars in damages. The jury, on the other hand, found that the sexual assault could not be qualified as rape.
“This verdict is a disgrace. I have no idea who this woman is,” Donald Trump immediately denounced on Truth Social. A little earlier, he had assured that he would appeal “whatever the decision”, claiming to have “been silenced in (a) unconstitutional way”.
Refusal to testify
The former tenant of the White House, however, had the right to come and testify, and the judge invited him to do so several times during the two weeks of the hearing. But the former president refused. His lawyers did not present a witness or defense, contenting themselves with showing the jury the video testimony of their client. The jurors notably saw Donald Trump claim that his accuser was “not (his) type” and then confuse her in a photo with his wife at the time, Marla Maples.
Former magazine columnist Elle, E. Jean Carroll claims that Donald Trump asked her for advice in 1995 or 1996 in choosing lingerie for a gift. According to her, it all started as a joke, but she assures that once in the fitting room, when the store was almost deserted, Donald Trump threw himself on her, pinned her against the wall and then penetrated with “her fingers in (her) vagina”, then with her sex. At the bar, her testimony was corroborated by two friends in whom she confided at the time.
“Grab them by the pussy”
During the 2016 presidential campaign, around 20 women accused Donald Trump of sexual assault or harassment. An old video ofAccess Hollywood then resurfaced.
Faced with presenter Billy Bush, Donald Trump boasted, in 2005, of being able to act with complete impunity with women, assuring: “When you are a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, grab them by the pussy. This video was shown twice to the jury.
Presidential candidate of 2024, Donald Trump is surrounded by court cases. His trial, this time in criminal court, for accounting fraud in the Stormy Daniels case, could take place next February or March. And a decision on possible charges in Georgia for pressuring local officials during the 2016 election is expected this summer. The triple investigation of special prosecutor Jack Smith is also moving forward, in particular with the testimony before a grand jury of Mike Pence. Technically, however, nothing can prevent Donald Trump from running, not even a possible prison sentence.
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