E. Jean Carroll's lawyer tells jury each Trump attack ends in a flood of threats

In opening statements for E. Jean Carroll's defamation damages case on Tuesday, her lawyer described the flood of threats she's faced from Donald Trump's supporters after he went on the attack against her, Matthew Russell Lee for the Inner City Press posted with live updates.

Addressing the jury, lawyer Shawn Crowley explained that Carroll came forward in 2019. The move was years after Trump had been in office. What changed is that New York laws extended the statute of limitations for certain cases of rape and other sex crimes, giving Carroll a legal avenue. What unfolded, however, was a campaign against her personally.

"Donald Trump said he never met her, that she just made it up to make money," Crowley said. "He was president. He used the world's biggest microphone against Ms. Carroll. He told lies. That's already been decided."

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The jury in the first case decided last year that Trump "sexually abused" Carroll, and attacks on her were defamation. She was awarded $5 million.

"What are you here to decide? Whether Donald Trump's defamatory statements caused her harm," the lawyer continued. "And if so, how much should he pay. This trial is only about damages. She had a reputation as a writer and advice columnist. He unleashed his followers."

Carroll's lawyers are arguing that Trump used the most powerful office in the world to bully her into silence. His supporters followed like his own personal army.

"You'll see the threatening messages she received. She lives every day in fear from the threats she gets from his followers online," said Crowley. "How much money will it take to make him stop? He didn't stop in 2019. He did it in October 2022. And today he lies. Today, as Donald Trump campaigns for president, he continues to defame Ms. Carroll. We are proud to represent her."

"It's time to hold Donald Trump accountable," the lawyer closed. "It's to make Donald Trump pay, dearly."