Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse
Donald Trump has a long record of losing court cases. For example, he lost over 65 trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. So nobody should be surprised that he lost this one. A jury found him liable for sexual abuse yesterday.
A Manhattan jury on Tuesday found former President Donald J. Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages.
More than a dozen women have accused Mr. Trump of sexual misconduct over the years, but this is the only allegation to be affirmed by a jury.
(New York Times, May 9, 2023)
The evidence of his liability on all counts was clear and convincing. Not least because Trump doubled down on this infamous entitlement for stars – after testifying that he’s a star:
They let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.
So it’s stupefying that the jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll but not for raping her.
Why wasn’t Trump found liable for rape
During his cross-examination of Carroll, Trump’s lawyer provoked her to scream, “he raped me!” That was the most convincing and damning part of her testimony.
More to the point, the evidence presented met all the elements of rape. I will spare you the penetrating details. But what the hell were these jurors thinking?
E. Jean Carroll verdict is no match for Trump’s lie
Carroll has just cause to be pleased with the verdict, especially the $5 million in damages. Commentators are hailing her as a biblical David who slew the Goliath of sexual abusers.
Never mind that, when it comes to holding Trump to account, Rep. Liz Cheney is giving Carroll a run for her money. Commentators are hailing her as a latterday Joan-of-Arc for the way she led the Jan 6 hearings on Trump’s attempted coup.
I appreciate the measure of vindication this verdict represents for Carroll. Not to mention the vicarious vindication Trump’s 26 other accusers must be feeling. I am happy for them.
But these jurors had Trump by the gonads. So I’m dismayed they were too afraid to squeeze. Because this means Trump will be able to boast that the jury did not believe he raped her. And, for once, he’ll be telling the truth.
Of course, Trump also boasted he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any support. And we now know he was telling the truth. It didn’t matter to MAGA Republicans that he attempted a coup. So it won’t matter that he raped a woman.
Reports suggest it will matter that Trump is now the first president found liable for a sex crime. But, with all due respect to Carroll, this is the least consequential of his many dubious firsts.
People have become accustomed to them. And that has been the point all along. Because this twice-impeached, indicted, coup-plotting, mendacious former president depends on that.
In any case, the evidence presented showed that Trump raped Carroll. The jury should have found him liable for rape. Period!