New York is introducing a new law that will make it easier to prosecute for sexual violence. Shortly thereafter, 78-year-old Jean Carroll seizes her chance to go to court with her allegations against ex-US President Trump. But he might still have an ace up his sleeve.
US author Jean Carroll has filed a new lawsuit against former US President Donald Trump before a New York court. The 78-year-old accuses the Republican of raping her in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. Carroll is now seeking damages for personal injury and damage to reputation, according to a lawsuit filed by her attorneys. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegation of rape.
So far, Carroll had not sued Trump for the rape allegation himself, but only for defamation. Because the deadline for filing criminal charges for sexual assaults in the 1990s had long since expired. A new law in the US state of New York now provides such an opportunity for victims of sexual violence in earlier cases. Immediately after its enactment, Carroll’s attorneys filed the new lawsuit.
Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, said she respects and admires people who speak out. However, this case “unfortunately represents a misappropriation of the law, which creates a serious precedent and risks delegitimizing the credibility of the actual victims”.
The defamation proceedings, which have been ongoing for some time, relate to statements made in 2019. Carroll had made the allegation of rape public in a book excerpt. Trump denied the allegations, saying, among other things, that she was not his type. He also accused her of only wanting to sell her new book. Carroll then sued Trump for portraying her as a liar and thus defaming her.
In October, Trump had to testify under oath in the trial. The hearing was then stayed by an appeals court because judges must clarify whether Trump is protected from legal action for statements he made during his presidency from 2017 to 2021.
