A judge ordered Trump to pay $83 million in defamation damages in 2019.
Former President Donald Trump is seeking a retrial in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, arguing that the judge in the case unfairly restricted her testimony.
President Trump was ordered in January to pay $83.3 million in damages to Carroll for defamation in 2019 after denying her claims that he sexually abused her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s. .
President Trump was on the witness stand for less than five minutes, during which he testified, “I just wanted to protect myself, my family, and frankly, the office of president.”
Judge Lewis Kaplan instructed the jury to ignore the statement, saying it went beyond what President Trump was allowed to do.
Defense attorneys said in a court filing on Tuesday that the president was not allowed to explain his “state of mind” when he made the derogatory comments about Carroll. The court’s limitations were erroneous and prejudicial.”
Defense attorneys Alina Haba and John Sauer wrote, “This court’s erroneous decision to significantly limit the scope of President Trump’s testimony almost certainly influenced the jury’s verdict. A trial is warranted.”
The defense also asked Judge Kaplan to reduce the damages award by $83.3 million, saying it “exceeds the allowable damages and exceeds comparable damages” in the Southern District of New York. .
