Donald Trump Just Opened Himself Up to Being Sued Again

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Questions have been raised about whether Donald Trump could be sued again after he mocked and insulted former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll a day after he was ordered to pay her $5 million in punitive and punitive damages over sexual harassment claims. battery and defamation.

The former president made the comments during his CNN town hall appearance, returning to the network for the first time since 2016 to answer questions from moderator Kaitlan Collins and an audience of GOP voters in New Hampshire on Wednesday of the night

Before the broadcast, CNN was criticized for giving the 2024 candidate—who is still under investigation for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 attack and attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 Election—a prime time slots.

Some have expressed fears that Trump will use his CNN appearance to attack Carroll, with the town hall being held a day after a New York jury ruled that the former president sexually assaulted Carroll at the Bergdorf Goodman department store. in the 1990s, then defamed him while denying the accusations.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 4, 2023. Questions have been raised about whether Trump could be indicted again after he mocked and insulted E. Jean Carroll a day after he was ordered to pay her $5 million in damages and punitive damages over sexual battery and defamation claims. Alex Wong/Getty Images

As feared, Trump insulted Carroll when asked about the jury’s decision in the civil trial, which saw the former president order him to pay $5 million in punitive and punitive damages.

“It’s a fake story. Made up story,” Trump said Wednesday. “I have no idea who the hell she is. She’s a wack job.

“What kind of woman meets someone and brings them up, and within minutes you’re playing hanky-panky in a dressing room?” Trump said, prompting laughter from the audience.

Legal experts and political commentators have now suggested that Carroll could file a new defamation lawsuit against Trump after his latest comments.

“I hate that CNN allowed E. Jean Carroll’s name to be dragged through the mud again by this terrible man. Sure she could sue him for defamation again,” tweeted Sherrilyn Ifill, attorney and former director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

“It doesn’t change the pain and shame of laughing, and knowing that CNN is willing to expose him to it,” he wrote.

I am disgusted that @CNN has allowed E. Jean Carrolls name to be dragged through the mud again by this horrible man. Surely he could be sued for defamation again. It doesn’t change the pain and embarrassment of laughing, and the knowledge that CNN is willing to expose him to it.

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) May 11, 2023

MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin wrote: “Tonight was like watching a bad law school exam pattern unravel. And now, I’m pondering the specific impact, if any, of yesterday’s verdict on the defenses by Trump on any new claims by E. Jean Carroll or only elements thereof (eg, the falsehood prong of defamation)

“And the other pressing question: Is Trump the only defendant?”

Olivia Troye, who served as a homeland security and counterterrorism adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, said: “Still processing what happened at that CNN Trump town hall…But one moment is more scary…and E. Jean Carroll should sue Trump again.”

However, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman played down suggestions that Carroll should launch a new defamation lawsuit against Trump.

“There are many questions about [whether] Carroll may sue again for new defamation. Yes, and it will be interesting to do this and keep adding numbers,” Litman tweeted. “But I doubt he will: he can already claim vindication, and why spend that boat? In addition to his injuries [would] date only from new defamation IE very little.”

Newsweek reached out to Trump’s office and Carroll’s legal team for comment via email.

New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also condemned CNN for allowing Trump to attack Carroll.

“There is no way CNN can feign ignorance about the fact that they set up a sexual assault victim to be targeted and attacked on national television the day after the verdict,” he tweeted. “People raised the alarm about this exact scenario. They let it happen anyway without a plan.”

In a statement, a CNN spokesperson said: “Tonight Kaitlan Collins demonstrated what it means to be a world-class journalist. She asked tough, fair and revealing questions. And she followed through and polled President Trump in real time to arm voters with valuable information about his positions as he enters the 2024 election as the Republican frontrunner.

“That’s CNN’s role and responsibility: to get answers and hold those in power accountable.”

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