Donald Trump trial: Judge asks jurors if they attended Trump rally or ‘follow’ E. Jean Carroll
Kaelan Deese
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The judge presiding over the civil defamation trial against former President Donald Trump began Tuesday in New York City with a selection of 12 jurors, each of which was questioned on whether they’ve attended a rally for the former president or if they “follow” his rape accuser on social media.
“God willing,” U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said, the jury will remain anonymous over the course of the trial, which is expected to last five to 10 days. Each juror was assigned a number at random and provided a brief description of their family life, occupation, and media literacy.
E. JEAN CARROLL V. DONALD TRUMP: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE DEFAMATION TRIAL AS JURY SELECTION BEGINS
“Anyone ever been to a rally for Mr. Trump? No one. Anyone believe that the last presidential election was stolen? No affirmative response,” Kaplan asked in one series of questions meant to gauge if jurors can remain impartial, according to a local reporter who shared remarks from the untelevised trial.
Kaplan also asked the jury whether any of them could be partial to E. Jean Carroll, the former Elle magazine columnist suing Trump for defamation after he publicly denied her rape allegations dating back to the mid-1990s.
“Anyone follow Jean Carroll? Seems not. … Ever read her on Substack … No affirmative response,” Kaplan said. The judge also did not receive affirmative responses from jurors when asking whether they disagree with a former president being sued or if they have any sensitive views about sexual assault allegations.
The case is civil, not criminal, meaning Trump could have to pay possibly millions of dollars in damages if Carroll wins. However, it would take only one disagreeing with a majority to find Trump not liable in the dispute.
Carroll is expected to attend the duration of the trial, and Trump’s attorneys said he likely won’t attend unless he is compelled to testify. Opening statements are slated to begin Tuesday afternoon.
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Carroll’s legal fight with Trump stems from an initial lawsuit filed in November 2019 while he was still president. She filed a new lawsuit against him after he allegedly defamed her in an online post by denying her rape allegations.
The lawsuit was elevated into a more severe battery case after New York passed a law in November allowing alleged victims to file civil suits after the statute of limitations expired.