Donald Trump could face yet another lawsuit from author E. Jean Carroll after lashing out at her during a Michigan rally. Speaking to supporters in the Great Lakes State, Trump once again stated that he does not know who Carroll is, adding, “Our court system is a mess.” Carroll successfully sued Trump for defamation when he called her a liar for accusing him of assault and was awarded more than $83 million. Following his latest remarks, some commentators on social media suggested Carroll could sue him again – something she had already threatened to do.
During an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow immediately after her victory, E. Jean Carroll said she would “absolutely” file another lawsuit against the former President if she had the opportunity. She celebrated her victory, stating, “We did what people thought was impossible. We beat Donald Trump.”
In a separate blow to the former President, a New York judge ordered him to pay $355 million after finding that he had falsely represented the value of his assets. The case was initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused Trump of overvaluing real estate assets for favorable loan rates and undervaluing them for tax purposes. The judge also banned Mr. Trump from serving as a company director or taking out bank loans for the next three years. After the ruling, James said, “Nobody is above the law.”
In addition to the $355 million, Trump must also pay a further $98 million in pre-judgment interest, which will continue to accrue until the fine is paid. In his ruling, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron said, “New York means business in combating business fraud.”
The former President said he would appeal the decision and claimed New York is “going bust.” Mr. Trump argued that he had employed thousands of people in the Empire State, but the courts decided to punish him regardless. His attorney, Chris Kise, stated that Trump is confident the Appellate Division will “correct” Engoron’s error.
