Crime

DOJ: Trump Not Immune From Carroll Suit

JUL 12 2023·Updated FEB 6 2024

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

On Tuesday, the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) reversed its previous decision that former Pres. Donald Trump was immune from E. Jean Carroll’s $10M defamation lawsuit.
Reuters
The DOJ's decision letter moves forward a second defamation suit by Carroll, who in May won a $5M judgment against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation in a separate case.
USA Today
The DOJ wrote a letter to Trump and Carroll’s lawyers, stating that it no longer believes Trump was working within the scope of the presidency in June 2019 when he denied knowing or assaulting Carroll in the 1990s.
Reuters
The DOJ cited the May verdict, an October deposition of Trump, and Carroll's claims that Trump made more defamatory comments in May, as part of its reasoning for reversing its immunity decision. The Department stated there was "no longer a sufficient basis" to justify that Trump's comments were motivated by a desire to serve as president.
Al Jazeera
Following the DOJ's decision, Carroll's suit is scheduled to go to trial in January 2024. Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, praised the decision and reaffirmed Carroll's stance that Trump's comments as president were born out of "personal animus, ill will, and spite."
BBC News

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The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

The DOJ is continuing its political witch hunt against Trump to derail the favorite for the GOP presidential nomination in his quest to return to the White House. However, truth is on Trump's side — as his countersuit against Carroll for her own defamation of the former president will reveal. Trump will ultimately defeat this scam and others like it.

The Washington Examiner

Democratic narrative

At every turn Trump is accused of doing something illegal, defending himself under the presumption that because he was president he was immune from the law. However, just like his prior claims that he couldn't be held liable for actions he took while in office, such an argument has rightly been rejected and Carroll’s case will finally move to trial so she can obtain justice.

Politico