E. Jean Carroll to sue Trump over sexual assault allegations, again


Former Elle advice columnist E. Jean Carroll is taking advantage of a new law in New York to file a civil suit against former President Donald Trump for allegedly raping her in the 1990s, according to court records released on Tuesday, The New York Times reports.
Earlier this year, New York state passed a law that grants adult victims of sexual assault a one-time opportunity to sue, even if the statute of limitations has expired. Carroll sued Trump in 2019 for defamation in response to him branding her a liar and denying he assaulted her in a New York department store dressing room.
In a letter to the federal judge overseeing the defamation lawsuit, Carroll's lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan, wrote that they intend to file the new case against Trump on Nov. 24. The day marks the beginning of the one year that the law allows for such suits to be filed. Kaplan added that she plans to ask Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York to try the two cases simultaneously on Feb. 6.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, responded with a letter of her own, telling Judge Kaplan that granting the request from Carroll's lawyer would be "extraordinarily prejudicial" for Trump and would violate his rights. Both letters were dated in August and were not available publicly until the court filed them on Tuesday, per the Times.
Carroll wrote about her allegations against Trump in a 2019 book and an article published in New York magazine. She initially filed her defamation lawsuit in state court, but the Justice Department removed the case and moved it to federal court at the request of the White House.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
‘This isn’t just semantics’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Miami Freedom Tower’s MAGA library squeeze
THE EXPLAINER Plans to place Donald Trump’s presidential library next to an iconic symbol of Florida’s Cuban immigrant community has South Florida divided
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal