Donald Trump could be hit by a third defamation suit after he attacked E. Jean Carroll again in a January 17 press conference — and this time the financial hit could be devastating, a lawyer said
Carroll’s lawyer has a transcript of the press event in which the former president repeated claims that Carroll lied about him sexually assaulting her in the 1990s, Newsweek reported.
He has already been found liable for the sexual assault and twice for defamation — stemming from statements exactly the same as those he repeated last week.
Now attorney Bryan M. Sullivan, who represents Hunter Biden, told Newsweek a third defamation case is on the radar — and this time the damages could be even higher than those he already has to pay.
"She can sue him a third time, and precedence has been established from the first two cases. The damages would likely be increased the third time," he said.
It could also silence Trump.
"It would give the court potential grounds to issue an injunction precluding Trump from speaking about the claims that can be subsequently enforced in contempt proceedings," he said.
Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages after being found liable of the assault and defamation last year. In a second trial that's ongoing, a judge has again found him liable for defamation, but a jury is considering the amount of damages he should pay.
Carroll has requested $10 million, though an expert witness suggested it should be more than that.
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During the press conference, Trump said, "The witness today, the person I never knew, I never had anything to do with, it's a totally rigged deal, this whole thing is rigged — election interference. But, this is a person I have no idea — until this happened, obviously — I have no idea who she was, and nor could I care less. It's a rigged deal, it's a made-up, fabricated story."
Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, has already said she intends to use it as evidence. It is unknown if she intends to file a third defamation claim.
"We learned about that press conference later that evening, promptly prepared a video and transcript of the portion we intended to put into evidence, and sent the video and transcript to defendant's counsel," she wrote in a court filing over the weekend.
