In a defamation trial against Donald Trump, the former president’s legal team argued that E. Jean Carroll’s increased fame and positive attention should lower any potential damages.
They claimed that her newfound celebrity status and support should be factored into the jury’s decision.
However, the judge ultimately barred the consideration of any reputational benefits when calculating damages.
“She is living the life of the rich and famous, hanging out with celebrities, Kathy Griffin,” lead defense attorney Alina Habba said.
She’s “Getting tweets of acclaim,” Habba noted, “from Alyssa Milano, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rob Reiner.”
“As you will see,” Habba said, “she got what she wanted.”
The defense’s attempt to use Carroll’s increased fame as a defense was shut down, and the jury was instructed not to consider any potential positive impacts on her reputation.
“The defense in this case actually has the nerve to suggest that Ms. Carroll actually should be grateful to Donald Trump for defaming her because she is even more famous than she was before,” Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan said.
“Donald Trump’s most insulting argument,” she said.
“I have to be honest with you,” she added, “It takes a lot of gall to make an argument like that.”
“You saw what Donald Trump said about her. You saw the horrific online attacks that followed,” Kaplan said.
“You saw her here yourself,” she said. “The idea that she should be grateful to him, that she’s now better off, is indefensible.”
Despite Trump’s team’s arguments, the jury reached a verdict in Carroll’s favor, awarding her $83.3 million in damages.
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