Trump is sued once more by author for defamation, and battery, over alleged rape By Reuters

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Donald Trump was sued for defamation a second time on Thursday by a author who accused the previous U.S. president of mendacity by denying that he raped her 27 years in the past.

In a criticism filed in Manhattan federal courtroom, the previous Elle journal columnist E. Jean Carroll additionally accused Trump of battery in an alleged encounter on the Bergdorf Goodman division retailer in Manhattan.

Carroll, 78, introduced the battery declare below New York’s Grownup Survivors Act, a brand new legislation giving sexual assault victims a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers, even when the abuse occurred way back and statutes of limitations have expired.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, was the primary day that accusers may sue.

Trump, 76, has denied raping Carroll or understanding her on the time, and mentioned she was “not my sort.”

His first denial in June 2019 prompted her to sue for defamation 5 months later.

He repeated the denial in an Oct. 12 put up on his Reality Social account, calling Carroll’s declare a “hoax” and “lie,” prompting the brand new defamation declare.

Each side are awaiting appeals courtroom choices addressing Trump’s argument that he was legally immune from Carroll’s first lawsuit as a result of he had spoken in his capability as president.

If courts agreed that the U.S. authorities, which has sovereign immunity from defamation claims, could possibly be substituted for Trump as a defendant, Carroll’s first lawsuit would fail.

That will doubtless not have an effect on her second lawsuit as a result of Trump is a non-public citizen, having left the White Home in January 2021.

Carroll is looking for unspecified damages. To assist her battery declare, she mentioned Trump brought about her lasting psychological hurt, and left her unable to maintain a romantic relationship.

The primary lawsuit is scheduled for trial on Feb. 6, 2023, earlier than U.S. District Choose Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, however will doubtless be delayed due to the appeals course of.

At a listening to on Tuesday, Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan requested for an April 10 trial masking each lawsuits, saying they’ve substantial overlap.

Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba sought a Could 8 trial for less than the primary lawsuit. She additionally instructed the decide an extended delay made sense as a result of Trump had not employed a lawyer for the second lawsuit.

“Your consumer within the current motion, Ms. Habba, has recognized this was coming for months, and he could be well-advised to resolve who’s representing him in it,” the decide responded.

Choose Kaplan mentioned he could resolve early subsequent week how one can schedule each lawsuits.