
What’s happening: A New York jury has mandated Donald Trump pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages for “defaming” her while denying allegations he sexually assaulted the writer. Carroll accused Trump of attacking her in the 1990s in a 2019 New Yorker article when Trump was still president; last year, a jury found he was liable.
Why it matters: This case mirrors similar cases against Trump around the country, in which the media and prosecutors have ignored practically all evidence that may help Trump while amplifying anything that could hurt him.
Problems galore: There is a litany of problems with Carroll’s latest case:
Evidence: The only witnesses are two of Carroll’s friends, who claim that they were told about the incident within days of it happening.
Funding: Although Carroll testified no one was funding her, the lawsuit was paid for by a nonprofit backed by billionaire Reid Hoffman, a major Democrat donor who also donated to Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign.