Former President Donald Trump is facing a civil prosecution over an allegation that he raped a columnist nearly 30 years ago.
Tuesday will mark the beginning of jury selection in a New York federal court.
Mr. Trump has denied E Jean Carroll’s claim that he assaulted her in a New York department store. He asserts she fabricated the claim for publicity purposes.
Even though this is not a criminal case, Mr. Trump may still face severe consequences.
If Ms. Carroll wins the lawsuit, it will be the first time the former president, who has been accused of sexual assault more than two dozen times, is held legally liable for sexual assault.
Mr. Trump faces a slew of other legal difficulties, including more than two dozen felony counts related to the payment of hush money to an adult film actress and an investigation into his alleged role in the 6 January 2021 riot at the United States Capitol.
Mr. Trump is also coordinating his upcoming campaign for the White House.
Expect the following at the trial.
What are the alleged offenses?
Ms. Carroll, 79, claims the incident occurred in a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman store in late 1995 or early 1996.
She stated that the two had encountered each other while purchasing. Mr. Trump then allegedly requested her to showcase lingerie for another woman. In the changing rooms, the real estate billionaire attacked Ms. Carroll and pinned her against the wall.
Ms. Carroll, whose advice column “Ask E. Jean” has appeared in Elle magazine since 1993, claims she was able to dislodge him after “a titanic struggle.”
According to her complaint, she did not report the alleged encounter to the police because she “was in shock and did not want to think of herself as a rape victim.”
Two of Ms. Carroll’s acquaintances, Carol Martin and Lisa Birnbach, claim she told them within days of the alleged incident. Ms. Martin and Ms. Birchbach are on the list of potential witnesses Ms. Carroll may summon.
What has Donald Trump said?
Mr. Trump has issued numerous denials in the years since Ms. Carroll’s allegations surfaced in 2019.
On his social media platform Truth Social, he called her allegations a “complete hoax” and claimed that the alleged rape “never happened.” Mr. Trump reiterated his denials during an October deposition, adding that his accuser is “not my type.”
It is currently unknown whether Mr. Trump will appear during the trial, which is anticipated to last up to two weeks.
Ms. Carroll’s lawyers have declared that they will not call him as a witness.
The accuser’s attorneys plan to show jurors the Access Hollywood tape in which Mr Trump brags about grabbing women. Ms. Carroll’s lawyers plan to call other women who say Mr. Trump assaulted them.
Why is this case civil?
The criminal statute of limitations has long since expired for this case.
In New York, the statute of limitations for filing civil litigation for sexual assault is typically three years, so it has also expired.
New York, however, enacted the Adult Survivors Act in 2022, allowing victims of sexual assault to file litigation in the state for claims that would have otherwise been time-barred.
Ms. Carroll filed suit against Mr. Trump shortly after the law went into effect.
Before this case, the author had previously sued Mr. Trump for defamation after he referred to her as a liar following the publication of her memoir. This lawsuit is presently on hold as the courts debate whether former presidents can be sued legally.
Who is responsible for Carroll’s legal fees?
According to court documents, Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and Democratic donor, has aided pay Ms. Carroll’s legal fees.
After learning of Mr. Hoffman’s role, Mr. Trump’s attorneys attempted to delay the trial, claiming it raised doubts about Ms. Carroll’s motivations. The judge denied this motion but permitted the attorneys to question Ms. Carroll about the financing.
In a statement, Mr. Hoffman defended his support for Ms. Carroll, claiming that he had “never attempted to conceal the financial support that I have provided to this lawsuit after it began.”
“Our courts are a mechanism of justice for all citizens, not just those with sufficient wealth and influence to rig the game in their favor,” he stated.
