Donald Trump could face legal consequences for questioning why his accuser in an ongoing rape trial ‘did not scream’ in a post on social media, the judge hearing the case has warned.
Former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll testified on the second day of the New York civil trial that Mr Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store changing room in 1996, then attempted to “destroy her” by accusing her of lying when she went public years later.
The 76-year-old Republican posted on his Truth Social media account on Wednesday morning calling the proceedings a “scam”.
Mr Trump, who is not expected to be called to give evidence during the two-week hearing in Manhattan, wrote: “The E. Jean Carroll case, Ms. Bergdorf Goodman, is a made up SCAM.”
Comments ‘entirely inappropriate’
“Does anybody believe that I would take a then almost 60-year-old woman that I didn’t know, from the front door of a very crowded department store, (with me being very well known, to put it mildly!), into a tiny dressing room, and …. her,” he continued. “She didn’t scream? There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this? She never made a police complaint? If I was seen there with a woman-BIG PRESS. SCAM!”
Ms Carroll’s lawyer argued in court to Judge Lewis Kaplan that Mr Trump’s latest posts violate court orders. Judge Kaplan replied that the former president seemed to be trying to communicate to his supporters, or even perhaps jurors, about issues that “are not supposed to be part of the case”.
He said the comments were “entirely inappropriate”.
Joe Tacopina, a lawyer for Mr Trump, responded that he would “try to address that with my client” and that he would ask him to “refrain from any further posts regarding this case”.
The judge responded, “Well, I hope you’re more successful,” and added that Mr Trump “may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability. And I think you know what I mean”.
Ms Carroll, 79, is suing the GOP front-runner in the 2024 US presidential election for defamation after he denied her rape claim in an October post on Truth Social.
Though these are civil proceedings and not a criminal trial, the stakes are still high for Mr Trump. If Ms Carroll is successful, it would be the first time he is held legally responsible for sexual assault, after more than two dozen such allegations have been made against him.
Taking the stand for the first time, the former Elle magazine advice columnist told jurors her early impressions of the New York real estate mogul were as a “raconteur” and “man about town”.
She admitted to finding him attractive, believing him to be a “sophisticated man who was entertaining to be around”.
Bergdorf Goodman changing room
An audibly emotional Ms Carroll then recounted the moment of the alleged attack in the Bergdorf Goodman changing room, saying: “He was very large. He leaned down and pulled down my tights.
“I was pushing him back. It was quite clear that I didn’t want anything else to happen. As I’m sitting here today, I still feel it.”
She said she screamed but did not recall saying “no”.
Mr Trump denies the accusations, saying the pair never met. A photograph was submitted into evidence on Wednesday showing Mr Trump and Ms Carroll at a social event with their partners in the mid-Nineties.
A six-man, three-woman jury is expected to decide whether to hold Mr Trump liable for damages, and, if so, how much he owes Ms Carroll in damages.
The trial continues.