Donald Trump lashed out on Truth Social just moments after the verdict was read in a case involving a woman accusing him of rape in the 1990s. While the Manhattan jury found the former president not guilty of the most serious charge, it did find him guilty of forcibly touching her.
“I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE – A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!” Trump wrote on his 5-million-follower account.
For his part, he has said that he has never met Carroll and certainly never raped her. In a separate Truth post, while awaiting the verdict to be read, he said they were deciding on a “False Accusation” and complained that he is “not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard-nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me.” He added that he “will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me … no matter the outcome!”
The much-anticipated verdict was announced at 3 p.m. Eastern time in a federal courtroom in New York City, with the jury finding that Trump did not rape Carroll but that he did “sexually abuse” her and does have to pay a fine. CGTN, tweeting about the verdict, said:
U.S. Jury finds Donald Trump did not rape E. Jean Carroll – court hearing in civil trial according to Reuters #CGTNAmerica
Jury awards Carroll $20,000 in punitive damages for battery claim against Trump – court hearing #CGTNAmerica
Jury awards Carroll $2 million in compensatory damages for battery claim against Trump – court hearing #CGTNAmerica
Jury finds Trump defamed Carroll in October 2022 truth social post in which he called her allegations a ‘con job’ – court hearing #CGTNAmerica
Jury awards Carroll $2.7 million in compensatory damages for defamation by Trump – court hearing
Immediately, swift and outraged responses poured in on Twitter. Independent journalist Andy Ngo responded to the verdict pretty matter of factly, but did finish with a common talking point that, despite her accusations, neither the alleged victim nor anyone else “could remember a possible date.”
“Former President Trump has been found not liable for raping E Jean Carroll. However the New York City civil trial jury found him liable for sexual abuse & defamation against her. The damages he is told to pay is $5m. Carroll says Trump raped her in a busy department store in the 1990s but neither she nor anyone could remember a possible date,” Ngo tweeted.
Conservative commentator Collin Rugg shared a widely-viewed video of the woman sounding quite odd in a one-on-one with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, making such a startling comment he appeared to cut right to a commercial break. Check it out:
BREAKING: Jury finds that Donald Trump did NOT rape E. Jean Carroll but say he did forcibly touch her.
Here is Carroll talking about the alleged incident with Anderson Cooper. She doesn’t appear to know what rape means and is clearly not well.
“I think most people think of rape… pic.twitter.com/QqvjAN5BBl
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 9, 2023
And Laverne Spicer went into a more direct analysis of what it means, writing:
“So they say Trump is guilty of forcibly touching E. Jean Carroll even though she has no date, time, or idea when it happened. I fear for the young men growing up in this country now. You can be found guilty of sexual abuse just because someone feels like making a fake accusation.”
So they say Trump is guilty of forcibly touching E. Jean Carroll even though she has no date, time, or idea when it happened.
I fear for the young men growing up in this country now.
You can be found guilty of sexual abuse just because someone feels like making a fake…
— Lavern Spicer 🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) May 9, 2023
The AP reported on the presiding judge’s instructions, which were given earlier in the day and prior to their ultimately three-hour deliberation. The AP described the jury instructions as focusing first on the question of rape and then following up depending on how they settled that matter. The AP wrote:
Kaplan told jurors that the first question on the verdict form will be to decide whether they think there is more than a 50% chance that Trump raped Carroll inside a store dressing room. If they answer yes, they will then decide whether compensatory and punitive damages should be awarded.
If they answer no on the rape question, they can then decide if Trump subjected her to lesser forms of assault involving sexual contact without her consent or forcible touching to degrade her or gratify his sexual desire. If they answer yes on either of those questions, they will decide if damages are appropriate.
On defamation claims stemming from a statement Trump made on social media last October, Kaplan said jurors must be guided by a higher legal standard — clear and convincing evidence. He said they would have to agree it was “highly probable” that Trump’s statement was false and was made maliciously with deliberate intent to injure or out of hatred or ill will with reckless disregard for Carroll’s rights.
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