Trump lawyer suggests E Jean Carroll death threats had nothing to do with Trump
Victoria Bekiempis
Alina Habba, Trump’s lead attorney, tried in cross-examination to sow doubt over the threats against E J Carroll, who said she did not report them to police.
“So as [you] sit here today, I have no way of knowing how many death threats you have received, nor do the police?” said Habba.
On the second day of cross-examination, Habba tried to prove that online backlash resulting from the article was not Trump’s doing, as some people posted tweets before his denial. Among those tweets was: “You’re a joke, no one would willingly touch your ugly ass.”
“Wouldn’t you agree that negative tweets are not necessarily tied to president Trump’s statements, Ms Carroll?” said Habba.
“Some negative tweets are definitely tied to the president’s statement,” replied Carroll.
“And why do you think that?” said Habba.
“Because they follow president Trump and they want to emulate him,” replied Carroll.
Habba also tried to discredit Carroll by intimating that she has loose morals. “Did you ever post any tweets that could be considered sexually explicit?” she said.
Carroll’s team objected. Judge Lewis Kaplan sustained the objection.
Key events
E J Carroll is now on redirect examination.
Carroll’s lawyer is now asking her questions again.
Summary
Cross-examination in E J Carroll’s defamation case against Donald Trump is now over. Here are the key developments from this morning:
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Trump’s lead attorney Alina Habba tried to cast doubt on the threats Carroll faced as a result of Trump’s public remarks about her. Citing derogatory tweets directed towards Carroll, Habba asked whether Carroll agrees that the tweets are “not necessarily tied” to Trump’s statements. Carroll said, “Some of the tweets are definitely tied to the president’s statement.”
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Cross-examination also took a turn for the absurd when Habba pointed to a 2013 tweet in which Carroll referred to penile functions. “You left that on your Twitter account as we stand here today, correct” asked Habba, to which Carroll answered in the affirmative.
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Habba also appeared to suggest that Carroll had not suffered as a result of Trump’s comments, pointing to TV appearances as an example. “So, your reputation in many ways is better today isn’t it Ms Carroll?” said Habba. “No, my status was lowered. I’m partaking in this trial to bring my old reputation and status back,” replied Carroll.
Victoria Bekiempis
Alina Habba concluded her cross-examination by suggesting that E J Carroll had not suffered because of Donald Trump’s comments – didn’t she have opportunities like having a Substack and TV appearances? Was she making more money? Was she better known?
“So, your reputation in many ways is better today isn’t it Ms Carroll?” said Habba.
“No, my status was lowered. I’m partaking in this trial to bring my old reputation and status back,” replied Carroll.
“So, you sued Donald Trump to bring your old reputation back?” said Habba.
“Yeah,” replied Carroll.
Cross examination in E J Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump is now over.
Carroll is now off the stand.
Victoria Bekiempis
As Alina Habba hammered on about sexual commentary on E J Carroll’s social media accounts (the former Elle columnist has written about sex and relationships for years), questioning took a turn for the absurd.
“Ms Carroll, what does this say: ‘What CAN be done about the penis? It gets large when you want it small, and stays small when you want it large,’” Habba asked, showing a 2013 tweet.
What CAN be done about the penis? It gets large when you want it small, and stays small when you want it large.
— E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) March 6, 2013
“Those were your words, correct?”
“Yes,” Carroll said.
“And you posted them on a public social media account?”
“Yes.”
“And you left that on your Twitter account as we stand here today, correct?”
Carroll answered in the affirmative.
Pressed to explain the tweet, Carroll said: “It’s a philosophical question… Sometimes a woman doesn’t feel like making love and the man wants to,” Carroll explained, and sometimes it’s the reverse.
“You discussed penises?” Habba said.
Carroll said “yes.”
Trump lawyer suggests E Jean Carroll death threats had nothing to do with Trump
Victoria Bekiempis
Alina Habba, Trump’s lead attorney, tried in cross-examination to sow doubt over the threats against E J Carroll, who said she did not report them to police.
“So as [you] sit here today, I have no way of knowing how many death threats you have received, nor do the police?” said Habba.
On the second day of cross-examination, Habba tried to prove that online backlash resulting from the article was not Trump’s doing, as some people posted tweets before his denial. Among those tweets was: “You’re a joke, no one would willingly touch your ugly ass.”
“Wouldn’t you agree that negative tweets are not necessarily tied to president Trump’s statements, Ms Carroll?” said Habba.
“Some negative tweets are definitely tied to the president’s statement,” replied Carroll.
“And why do you think that?” said Habba.
“Because they follow president Trump and they want to emulate him,” replied Carroll.
Habba also tried to discredit Carroll by intimating that she has loose morals. “Did you ever post any tweets that could be considered sexually explicit?” she said.
Carroll’s team objected. Judge Lewis Kaplan sustained the objection.
Victoria Bekiempis
E Jean Carroll’s direct testimony detailed how Donald Trump’s 2019 denials – while he was still president, giving him the world’s most prominent platform – not only destroyed her reputation, but spurred a deluge of online hate and threats against her.
“The thing that really got me about this was, from the White House, he asked if anyone had any information about me, and if they did, to please come forward as soon as possible, because he wanted the world to know what’s really going on – and that people like me should pay dearly,” Carroll told jurors.
Carroll’s team presented some of these missives.
“I hope you die soon. I hope someone really does attack, rape and murder you,” one message shown in court stated. Another read: “Rape Jean rape Jean.”
Here are some images coming through the newswires from E J Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump:
E Jean Carroll cross examination resumes
Cross examination in E J Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump has resumed.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.
Throughout yesterday’s trial, Donald Trump did not hold back his outbursts as E J Carroll delivered her testimony.
Victoria Bekiempis, who was in the courtroom, reports for the Guardian:
As Carroll spoke, Trump complained audibly and appeared to double down on defamatory denials, her lawyer said during a morning break in the proceedings.
“Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things throughout Ms Carroll’s testimony,” said attorney Shawn Crowley.
“It’s loud enough for us to hear it,” Crowley said, so “I imagine it’s loud enough for the jury to hear it.”
Before court resumed after the break, judge Lewis Kaplan cautioned: “I’m just going to ask Mr Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel, so that the jury does not overhear.”
Trump did not heed Kaplan’s instruction and, before the lunch break, Crowley brought up his comments again.
“The defendant has been making statements again [that] we can hear at counsel table,” Crowley said.
“He said it is a ‘witch-hunt’, it really is a con-job.”
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In another post on Truth Social, Donald Trump announced his arrival to West Palm Beach on Thursday for the funeral of his late mother-in-law, Amaljia Knavs.
“Today will be devoted to the funeral (Celebration!!!) of a GREAT WOMAN, ‘Babi,’ the Beloved Mother of Melania and Grandmother of Barron — And what a Woman she was!!!” Trump wrote.
He added that he will return to New Hampshire over the weekend where he vowed to hold “big rallies.”
Trump’s legal team has tried to delay the E J Carroll trial for Knav’s funeral but judge Lewis Kaplan refused. Kaplan said that Trump would be allowed to testify next Monday if he is unable to appear in court on Thursday.
Following yesterday’s trial, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to once again rant about E J Carroll, her legal team and judge Lewis Kaplan, calling the case a “ridiculous hoax.”
In a fiery post on his social media platform, Trump wrote:
“The whole story is a MADE UP & DISGUSTING HOAX! Like the now fully discredited RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA HOAX, & all of the others, this one is also conceived, funded, & carried out by Democrat Political Operatives like her lawyer (who I just beat in another SCAM case!) his one is also conceived, funded, & carried out by Democrat Political Operatives like her lawyer (who I just beat in another SCAM case!)…”
E Jean Carroll to continue testimony in second defamation trial against Trump
E J Carroll is set to testify again on Thursday as part of her civil defamation trial against Donald Trump.
Carroll’s testimony will follow testy exchanges involving the ex president, his attorney Alina Habba and US district judge Lewis Kaplan on Wednesday.
Throughout Carroll’s testimony in which she said, “I’m here because Donald Trump assaulted me…he lied and it shattered my reputation,” Trump loudly complained about the case. Trump’s audible grumbling caused Carroll’s legal team to argue that the ex president was being loud enough for the jury to potentially hear his remarks.
Kaplan, a no-nonsense judge, repeatedly warned Trump to refrain from disrupting the court and at one point threatened to kick him out of the trial. In response, Trump said, “I would love it, I would love it.”
Trump is back in Florida on Thursday to attend the funeral of his late mother-in-law Amaljia Knavs who died last week at 78-years old. Trump’s legal team has tried to delay the trial for the funeral, which Kaplan refused.
Here are other developments in US politics:
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The House is set to convene today in attempts to find Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress.
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California’s governor Gavin Newsom has vowed to block a proposed ban on tackle football for children under 12, expressing concern over their health and safety.
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Senate Democrats are condemning Republicans’ “cruel” abortion bans ahead of the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade.
