A report by Raw Story on January 19, 2024, it has been revealed that former President Donald Trump is actively seeking a mistrial in the defamation lawsuit brought against him by E. Jean Carroll.
This move, driven by allegations of misconduct, centers on deleted emails that Carroll asserted contained threats against her life. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, argues that Carroll’s deletion of these emails violates the law, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the accusations.
Despite Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissing this claim, a contentious legal battle is anticipated. Trump’s legal team emphasizes the significance of the deleted emails to the case, asserting that without these records, establishing the timeline of alleged threats becomes impossible, adding complexity to the proceedings.
Habba, in a letter to Judge Kaplan, reiterated the request, underscoring the vital role the deleted emails play in determining the sequence of events. Trump contends that Carroll started receiving negative messages immediately after an excerpt of her book, containing assault allegations against him, was published on New York Magazine’s website.
The timing of these threats is crucial to Trump’s defense, arguing that he shouldn’t be held responsible for others’ actions. Habba wrote, “Plaintiff’s entire claim for emotional harm is undermined because it would show that Plaintiff was receiving death threats before President Trump ever spoke about her.”
The argument pivots on the idea that damages should not be based on the concept that Carroll received death threats if the essential evidence – the deleted emails – is not admissible.
Carroll’s accusations against Trump involve claims of rape in a New York City department store during the late 1990s. While a jury has found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation previously, the ongoing trial focuses on defamatory comments related to the same assault.
Judge Kaplan has ruled these comments as defamatory, and the current proceedings aim to assess the damages Trump may be required to pay.
The push for a mistrial based on the deleted emails introduces a new layer of complexity to this high-profile legal battle. Trump’s legal team strategically questions the admissibility of crucial evidence, aiming to cast doubt on the timeline of events and, consequently, the emotional harm Carroll alleges. As the trial continues, the broader implications of this legal maneuver may significantly influence the case’s outcome and public perception.
