Donald Trump is set to appear in court once again as a part of the ongoing defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
This civil trial, scheduled for Tuesday in New York, follows a prior verdict where Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll.
In a landmark decision last May, a jury concluded that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll in 1996, awarding her $2 million for the assault and an additional $3 million for defamation related to Trump’s 2022 remarks dismissing her claim as a “complete con job.”
The focus of Tuesday’s trial is determining the compensation Trump should pay for separate comments made in 2019 while he was president. Carroll is seeking $10 million in damages for these remarks.
This trial begins just a day after Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucuses, marking the start of the Republican presidential nomination process, and ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
Quest Times further reports that despite being the favoured candidate, Trump had not attended the first trial, but expressed intentions to be present for the opening session this time.
In a legal twist, Trump’s request for a trial postponement due to his mother-in-law’s funeral was denied by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who noted Trump’s plans to meet with supporters in New Hampshire.
The former president has faced multiple trials, maintaining his innocence and asserting political persecution.
As tensions escalate, the judge has taken precautions, keeping jurors’ names confidential amid reported death threats against court officials involved in Trump’s cases.
Moreover, the trial will solely focus on the harm caused by Trump’s comments, previously deemed “defamatory,” “false,” and “malicious” by Judge Kaplan.
Trump will not be allowed to introduce evidence challenging the sexual assault and defamation claims.