Title: U.S. Government Reverses Position on Trump’s Immunity in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Lawsuit
Subtitle: Former President Trump faces setback as legal immunity claim is dismissed
Date: July 11, 2023
NEW YORK – In a surprising legal twist, former President Donald Trump suffered a defeat as the U.S. government reversed its position regarding his immunity from E. Jean Carroll’s $10 million defamation lawsuit. The U.S. Department of Justice declared that Trump’s denial of raping Carroll in the mid-1990s falls beyond the scope of his office and employment as president.
The Department’s changed stance contradicts the conclusion reached during the previous administration, leading to questions and speculations about the Biden administration’s motivations.
As a result, the government will no longer attempt to substitute itself as the defendant in the case, effectively ending Carroll’s lawsuit since it is not possible to sue the government for defamation.
In response to the decision, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, accused the Biden administration of politicizing the justice system and denounced the move as a “partisan sham.” According to Trump’s camp, this reversal displays a clear agenda to target the former president.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, viewed this development as a positive step, removing a potential obstacle to the scheduled trial on January 15, 2024, in Manhattan federal court. Kaplan has consistently argued that Trump’s defamatory statements were made out of personal animosity and not in his capacity as president.
The lawsuit was brought forth by Carroll, a 79-year-old writer, following Trump’s public denial of knowing her and claiming that the alleged rape incident never occurred. Trump further alleged that Carroll falsified the rape claim to boost sales of her memoir.
Carroll’s legal battle with Trump commenced with a jury verdict on May 9, 2023, which held Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse, though not rape. The former president is currently appealing the $5 million jury verdict.
In a separate filing, Carroll sought the dismissal of Trump’s countersuit, claiming that her statements referencing the jury verdict did not constitute defamation. Trump accused Carroll of causing significant harm to his reputation by implying that the assault was also a rape. Carroll’s lawyers argued that Trump’s countersuit was a mere attempt to delay the case further.
The defamation lawsuit, Carroll v Trump, is slated to proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Carroll’s legal team maintains that her statements were both substantially true and a reflection of her immediate sentiments following the verdict.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Howard Goller and Stephen Coates
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from Reuters and does not reflect the opinions and views of this publication.