Judges Show Skepticism Over Trump’s Request for New Trial in Carroll Case

In a courtroom packed with spectators, former President Donald Trump faced a federal appeals court in New York on Friday, seeking a new civil trial regarding a defamation and sexual assault case brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. The appellate judges expressed skepticism about Trump’s chances of overturning the jury’s previous verdict, with Judge Danny Chin commenting that it would be “very hard” to do so.

Trump, who sat alone at the defense table, remained silent during the brief proceedings. Upon entering the courtroom, he extended a cordial greeting to sketch artist Jane Rosenberg but did not glance at Carroll, who was seated just a short distance away.

Last May, a jury concluded that Trump should pay $5 million for defaming and sexually assaulting Carroll in a department store dressing room during the mid-1990s. Trump’s attorney, D. John Sauer, argued that this verdict was unwarranted and should not be upheld.

Sauer referred to the case as a “quintessential ‘he said, she said’ case,” suggesting that it had been significantly influenced by Trump’s political opponents. He described the allegations as implausible and claimed they were bolstered by prejudicial evidence that should not have been permissible in court.

Judge Chin interrupted Sauer, stating, “It’s very hard to overturn a jury verdict based on evidentiary rulings… so why should we order a new trial here?” This comment underscored the uphill battle Trump faced in challenging the verdict.

Sauer reiterated his arguments, specifically criticizing the decision to allow the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape into evidence. This recording features Trump boasting about groping women, and Sauer argued that the jury’s exposure to this tape, along with testimony from two other women accusing Trump of past assaults, was unjust. He insisted that one woman’s testimony, which described an encounter on a flight in the 1970s, was improperly included because the actions described were not explicitly classified as criminal at the time.

Roberta Kaplan, representing Carroll, countered Sauer’s claims by suggesting they overcomplicated the legal issues at play. She framed the discussion as akin to “too many lawyers trying to screw in a lightbulb,” asserting that the testimony provided essential insight into Trump’s alleged pattern of assaulting women.

Kaplan explained that Trump would initiate conversations with women politely, only to unexpectedly become aggressive. In response, Trump shook his head at Kaplan’s remarks from the defense table, indicating his disagreement.

During the oral arguments, Judge Chin took note of Sauer’s rushed presentation and urged him to slow down. “You’re speaking so fast. Why don’t you slow down a little bit?” he advised. Sauer responded that his fast pacing was due to his passion for the case.

After the hearing, Trump avoided answering a reporter’s question regarding his satisfaction with his legal team’s arguments, choosing to remain silent as he left the courtroom.

While Trump’s appearance was voluntary, it added a significant presence to the proceedings before the three-judge panel of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges did not issue an immediate decision, with Judge Myron Perez indicating that the case would undergo further deliberation.

Following the court session, Trump reiterated his stance to reporters, labeling Carroll’s allegations as “a made-up fabricated story by somebody just looking to promote a book.” He claimed, “I would have had no interest in meeting her.”

Kaplan responded to Trump’s comments by asserting that all legal options remain viable moving forward, indicating that the fight was far from over.

Carroll, who filed her lawsuit in November 2022, asserted that Trump defamed her on his Truth Social platform by labeling her claims “a Hoax and a lie” and dismissing her by stating, “This woman is not my type!” These remarks were made in response to Carroll’s allegation that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s.

In addition to the defamation claim, Carroll included a battery charge in her lawsuit, leveraging a New York law that enables adult survivors of sexual abuse to pursue legal action against their alleged aggressors, regardless of the statute of limitations. Trump has continuously denied all allegations of assault and defamation.

After the May verdict, Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration, posting, “I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE – A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!”

Furthermore, Trump is appealing the ruling in a separate case related to the same accusations, where a jury previously awarded Carroll $83 million in damages.