Trump Stands by Denial of Sexual Assault Accusations Despite Defamation Case Loss

Former President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on the allegations made by writer E. Jean Carroll, maintaining that they were false despite a recent defamation case ruling against him. While speaking at a rally in Rome, Georgia, Trump highlighted the $91.6 million bond he posted on March 8, just three days before the deadline to pay $83.3 million in damages to Carroll.

Carroll's Allegations

E. Jean Carroll first came forward in 2019 with allegations of sexual assault against Trump. A subsequent civil trial in May 2023 resulted in a New York jury finding that the former president had sexually abused Carroll but had not raped her.

During his rally speech, Trump reaffirmed his disbelief in Carroll's claims, stating, "I just posted a $91 million bond, $91 million on a fake story, totally made-up story."

Trump's Reaction

Trump expressed his frustration at the judgment, characterizing it as "based on false accusations made about me by a woman that I knew nothing about, didn't know, never heard of, I know nothing about her."

Legal Actions

Referring to the change in New York's Adult Survivors Act, which extended the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual assault, Trump criticized the law, stating, "They changed the law that allowed women to go back, like unlimited … then she went back and she said, mid-90s maybe, I have no idea."

Carroll not only won $83.3 million in damages but also secured a $5 million sexual abuse and defamation verdict against Trump in the previous year. Additionally, in a separate fraud case, the former president was ordered to pay $464 million in damages. Trump has indicated that he plans to appeal all three verdicts.

Concerns and Reactions

Trump also expressed his concerns about Judge Lewis Kaplan, who denied his request to delay the defamation judgment. He referred to the judge as a “Trump-deranged, angry man.”