Senator J.D. Vance characterized the jurors as coming from “extremely left-wing jurisdictions,” asserting on Sunday that the verdicts in New York against President Donald Trump, involving E. Jean Carroll’s defamation and sexual assault cases, lack credibility.
Trump’s Multimillion-Dollar Setback
Trump now faces an order to pay $83.3 million in damages to columnist Carroll, amidst a slew of cases against him coinciding with his 2024 presidential campaign.
Left-Wing Bias in Trials?
Once a “Never Trumper,” Vance from Ohio now staunchly supports the ex-president, a native New Yorker. He commented to George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week,” saying:
“This case, like so many legal cases against Donald Trump, they’re trumped up — they’re in extremely left-wing jurisdictions, or it’s actually the Biden administration prosecuting his chief political rival.”
Alleged Political Funding
He further explained to Stephanopoulos, “George, if you look at all of these cases, the through line, two-fold. No. 1, they’re funded by Donald Trump’s political opponents, and the goal here is not to help us actually have a real conversation about how to advance the country forward. Their goal is to defeat Trump at the courts because these people know they can’t defeat him at the ballot box.”
Skepticism on Verdicts
When Stephanopoulos questioned Vance about the credibility of verdicts delivered by New York City’s ordinary citizens, Vance expressed skepticism. He stated, “Well, when the cases are funded by left-wing donors and when the case has absolute left-wing bias all over it, George, absolutely I think that we should call into question that particular conclusion.”
‘Absolutely ridiculous!’
This echoes the sentiments of the former President Donald Trump, who vehemently denounced the verdict on Truth Social, stating:
“Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!”
Unfair to Sexual Assault Victims?
In response to the claim that supporting Trump equates to endorsing behaviors such as sexual assault and defamation, Vance stated, “I think it’s actually very unfair to the victims of sexual assault, to say that somehow their lives are being worse by electing Donald Trump for president, when what he’s trying to do, I think, is restore prosperity.”
Focus on 2024 Election Issues
Vance further noted, “I think most Americans recognize that this is not what we want to fight the 2024 election over. Let’s fight it over issues.”
Carroll Awarded Millions
Jean Carroll is set to receive a substantial sum in her legal victory against the former president: $18.3 million for compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive damages.
Reputation Harm
Of the compensatory amount, $11 million is allocated for a campaign to restore her reputation, while the remaining $7.3 million addresses the emotional distress caused by Trump’s public remarks in 2019.
Quiet Exit Post-Verdict
After the verdict, Carroll and her attorneys, looking visibly pleased, departed the courtroom in a black SUV without immediately responding to media inquiries.
Legal Defeats Pile Up
This significant ruling by the Manhattan federal court comes on the heels of Carroll’s earlier $5 million win in a separate sexual abuse and defamation trial against Trump. As a result of the previous rulings, Trump was barred from challenging Carroll’s sexual abuse claim again.
Assessing Damages
The jury’s role was solely to decide on the financial compensation for the harm caused to Carroll’s reputation and to determine a sum that would deter Trump from making further defamatory remarks.
Courtroom Testimony
Carroll, testifying, stated, “I’m here because Donald Trump assaulted me, and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied, and it shattered my reputation. I expected him to deny it, but to say it was consensual when it was not.
“But that’s what I expected him to say.”
A Tense Encounter
While Trump was absent from Carroll’s initial trial, he attended the second, marking their first face-to-face courtroom encounter. His conduct was in line with his well-known demeanor, prompting Judge Kaplan to issue warnings.
Trump’s Behavior in Trial
Kaplan stated, “Mr Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial … I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.”
Trump responded with a gesture, saying, “I would love it, I would love it.”
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
Dive into the shadows of American history as we explore 21 of its biggest lies that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s narrative:
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
Discover the amusing downfall of once-respected entities in our changing world:
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
Explore the lighter side of Donald Trump’s presidency with 23 hilariously memorable moments that left the nation in stitches:
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
