Trump Testifies

After numerous delays and deliberations, Donald Trump’s testimony on the witness stand in the Carroll II case, a Manhattan federal court trial involving journalist E. Jean Carroll’s civil claims, was remarkably brief.

As previously detailed, Trump, the defendant in this second trial, faced claims of sexual assault and defamation brought by Carroll. In the first trial, where Trump did not testify, a jury found him liable for a sexual assault and defamation. Judge Lewis Kaplan, a Clinton appointee, ruled that these issues had been decided and could not be contested in the second trial, which focused solely on damages for two additional defamation claims.

Although the trial resumed after a recess due to a juror’s illness, animosity between Trump and Kaplan was evident. Anticipated courtroom drama was limited to the ejection of Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, for an audible phone ring. During Trump’s brief testimony, he affirmed his belief that Carroll was lying and stood by his previous remarks calling her a liar. While Kaplan struck a sentence from the record, Trump’s position was clear to the jurors. When asked about his intentions behind the statements, Trump stated that he sought to defend himself, his family, and the presidency.

The cross-examination by attorney Roberta Kaplan appeared uneventful, with more action happening outside the jury’s hearing, where Trump protested and Judge Kaplan admonished him to lower his voice. The judge informed the jurors that, regardless of what they heard Trump say, the law considers him responsible for assaulting Carroll.

The jury was dismissed, and the lawyers for the parties will meet with the judge to review legal instructions before deliberations. Summations are scheduled for the following morning.