E. Jean Carroll believes her victory in court over Donald Trump is a victory for all women.
After a jury on Tuesday found the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll, the writer appeared on NBC to share her reaction to the historic verdict.
“I’m overwhelmed, overwhelmed with joy and happiness and delight for the women in this country,” she said.
Trump was found guilty of sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s, as well as defaming her when he denied her claims. He was not convicted of rape, but was ordered to pay Carroll a sum of $5 million. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney, said there was “no question” that the jury was sending a message with the verdict.
When the amount was awarded and the verdict was announced, Carroll said she “didn’t even hear the money. She said that the trial was “not about the money," but rather "about getting my name back, and that’s what we accomplished."
“Here’s the thing. Here’s the astonishing thing about his win yesterday,” she continued. “Of all the cases that this man faces, all the legal quagmires ... all the prosecutors, all the special counsel, all the investigators, what happened yesterday is one five-foot little blonde wily female attorney ... and one 79-year-old advice columnist beat Donald Trump in court.”
Trump has called the proceedings a “political witch hunt." He first accused Carroll of lying in 2019, saying she made up the accusations to sell a book. This is just one of Trump's recent legal battles — he also faces criminal charges for falsifying business records in Manhattan, and two special counsel investigations by the Justice Department for his actions during the 2020 election and subsequent transfer of power.
“I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen,” Carroll testified during the trial. “He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back.”
