Trump appears in court for appeal in E. Jean Carroll sex abuse case
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Former President Trump on Aug. 29 in Potterville, Michigan. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Former President Trump appeared at a Manhattan federal appeals court Friday as he continues to fight the $5 million verdict against him for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll who accused him of sexual assault.
Why it matters: Trump's attendance is his latest attempt to get a new trial in the case but the court is not likely to issue a decision before the presidential election, CNN reported.
What he's saying: During a news conference after the hearing, Trump railed against this case and his other legal challenges, repeating a false claim that his cases have been brought by politically motivated prosecutors.
- Trump recounted some of the allegations of sexual harassment against him as he denied wrongdoing. "I should be suing her for defamation," Trump said of Carroll.
- "I'm disappointed in my legal talent," Trump, appearing with his lawyers, said from Trump Tower.
Catch up quick: Carroll sued Trump in 2022, alleging he raped her in the mid-1990s and that he defamed her when he denied the assault after she went public with her allegations in 2019.
- A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation last year and ordered him to pay Carroll $5 million in damages.
- The jury did not find Trump liable for rape in the trial, though it was one of the types of battery the jurors were instructed to consider by the judge.
- Trump has denied all wrongdoing in the case.
State of play: Trump's legal team was expected to argue Friday that the judge issued "flawed and prejudicial evidentiary rulings" in the case, CBS News reported.
- Trump's lawyers have argued that the judge should not have allowed testimony from two other women who claimed Trump had sexually assaulted them and that the judge had "unreasonably restricted" cross-examination of two other witnesses, per CNN.
- Carroll also appeared in court on Friday.
Zoom out: In a related but separate trial, a jury ordered Trump in January to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation.
- Trump has maintained his innocence in that case and sought to appeal the judgement.
Go deeper: Trump held liable for sexual battery, defamation in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details of Trump's court appearance.
