Mr Trump falsely claimed he was blocked from “speaking and defending” himself throughout the case, hours earlier than the jury started deliberations.
Before the decision was handed down, Mr Trump, 76, wrote: “Waiting for a jury decision on a false accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me.”
Ms Carroll’s lawyer requested the jury be instructed that Mr Trump had declined the chance to testify within the case, to which Judge Kaplan replied: “We are where we are”.
Joe Tacopina, Mr Trump’s lawyer, beforehand assured Judge Kaplan he would inform his consumer to chorus from posting in regards to the case after the previous president known as the lawsuit “a made up SCAM” and claimed Ms Carroll’s lawyer was a “political operative”.
It appeared unlikely that the civil verdict would derail Mr Trump’s presidential marketing campaign.
Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist, mentioned: “The of us which are anti-Trump are going to stay that method, the core pro-Trump voters should not going to change.
“And the ambivalent ones I simply don’t assume are going to be moved by the sort of factor.”
No legal penalties
Because it was a civil case, Mr Trump will face no legal penalties. His authorized workforce determined not to current a defence or put Mr Trump himself on the witness stand.
Ms Carroll didn’t converse as she left court docket however smiled broadly.
Mr Trump had argued that Ms Carroll, a former Elle journal columnist and a registered Democrat, made up the allegations to damage him politically and increase gross sales of her ebook.
Ms Carroll informed the jury she ran into Mr Trump at Bergdorf’s whereas he was searching for a present for an additional girl.
She informed the jury that she agreed to assist Mr Trump select a present, and the 2 checked out lingerie earlier than he coaxed her right into a dressing room, slammed her head right into a wall and raped her.
Ms Carroll testified she couldn’t bear in mind the exact date or 12 months the alleged rape occurred.
Mr Trump’s authorized workforce questioned why she had by no means reported the matter to police or screamed throughout the alleged incident.
Two of Ms Carroll’s associates mentioned she informed them in regards to the incident on the time however swore them to secrecy as a result of she feared that Mr Trump would use his fame and wealth to retaliate towards her if she got here ahead.