By MICHAEL R. SISAK , LARRY NEUMEISTER and JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press|
NEW YORK — With Donald Trump looking on, writer E. Jean Carroll testified Wednesday that the former president shattered her reputation and continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago.
Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine damages, if any, that Trump owes her for remarks he made while he was president as he vehemently denied ever attacking her or knowing her. A jury last year already found that Trump sexually abused her and defamed her in October 2022.
During Carroll’s testimony, Trump grimaced, shook his head and animatedly turned to speak to his lawyer, who lobbed multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of her sexual assault allegations.
”I’ve paid just about as dearly as it’s possible to pay,” she said, referencing the damage she said rump had caused
She took the stand after a hostile encounter occurred between Trump attorney Alina Habba and Judge Lewis A. Kaplan over the judge’s refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump can attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
Habba called the judge’s ruling ”insanely prejudicial” and the judge soon afterward cut her off, saying he would ”hear no further argument on it.”
Habba told the judge: ”I will not be spoken to that way, your honor.” When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: ”It’s denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.””.
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