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Former President Donald Trump’s attempt to counter a defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll has been rejected by a federal judge, marking another legal setback for Trump. The judge, Lewis Kaplan, stated that Trump failed to prove that Carroll’s statements on CNN were false or not substantially true. Carroll had been awarded $5 million by a jury which found Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming her. In response to questions on CNN, Carroll affirmed the verdict by saying, “Oh, yes he did.”
Judge Kaplan’s ruling indicated that the jury’s previous decision established the substantial truth of Carroll’s accusations, thereby rejecting Trump’s arguments. The judge also declined Trump’s request for a new trial. Trump is still scheduled to face trial in January on a separate defamation lawsuit by Carroll. The trial occurs amid the ongoing presidential primary season and Trump’s legal battles against multiple criminal indictments.
Source: CNN