A federal judge in New York has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump.
The firing comes in response to Trump’s claim that he was defamed by former magazine columnist E.Jane Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault and rape.
District Judge Lewis Kaplan’s ruling on Monday upheld EJane Carroll’s allegation that Donald Trump molested her, calling the allegation “substantially true.” The decision contrasts with Trump’s efforts to overturn Carroll’s victory in the sexual assault lawsuit against him. In May, Carroll was awarded a $5 million judgment after a civil trial found Trump guilty of sexually assaulting her during a contest in the 1990s.
Trump’s countersuit was an attempt to challenge Carroll’s claim that he molested her. However, the judge’s decision underscores the weight of Carroll’s allegations, effectively bolstering the notion that Trump’s actions constituted a “sex crime.”
The decision not only rebukes Donald Trump’s defamation claim, but also strengthens Carroll’s position as she pursues her own defamation lawsuit against him. Robbie Kaplan, E. Jean Carroll’s attorney, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, saying he looks forward to the upcoming defamation trial in January. The case centers on Trump’s public denial of sexual assault allegations.
