Trump's loss to E. Jean Carroll was likely aided by these 2 blunders in his taped deposition
A federal jury in Manhattan on Tuesday found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, and awarded her $5 million. Trump did not attend the civil trial, as was his right, but Carroll's lawyers did show clips of the sworn deposition Trump sat down for in October 2022.
The six men and three women of the jury have so far heeded the advice of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to "not identify yourself" or publicly discuss their deliberations "for a very long time," if ever — so we don't know what evidence swayed them to unanimously decide in a short three hours that Trump was liable for sexual assault (though not technical rape) based on a preponderance of the evidence. But "as is so often the case, Mr. Trump didn't help himself with his videotaped deposition," The Wall Street Journal sighed in an editorial.
The Journal editorial board specifically pointed to Trump's defense of his infamous 2006 comments on an Access Hollywood outtake. "Historically" it's "largely true" that stars like him have been able to kiss and grab women sexually without repercussion, Trump said, "unfortunately or fortunately." CNN's Jake Tapper played that part of the deposition — which was released to the news media on Friday — and agreed it "must have just been a gift to E. Jean Carroll's case."
Subscribe to 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.
The other part of the deposition flagged by analysts was when Trump — who claimed repeatedly he had no idea who Carroll is — misidentified her in a photo as his second wife, Marla Maples, and appeared not to recognize his first wife, Ivana Trump, who was standing right next to him.
The Marla Maples slip-up was especially damaging for Trump because, elsewhere in the deposition, he stood "100 percent" by his "politically incorrect" statement that Carroll is "not my type."
The "civil verdict against Trump provides a measure of irony" as well, Aaron Blake writes in The Washington Post, "because the litigious Trump, more than virtually anyone in America, has wielded the civil court system against his foes relentlessly." Trump said he will appeal.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
The best dog-friendly hotels around the UK
The Week Recommends Take a break with your four-legged friend in accommodation that offers you both a warm welcome
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published