Author accuses former U.S. president of a 1990s assault, invoking new legal provisions for survivors.
E. Jean Carroll, a prominent author, has filed a new lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. The case is brought under New York’s recently enacted Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual abuse to file claims beyond the usual statute of limitations.
Ms Carroll alleges that Mr Trump raped her during an encounter at the Bergdorf Goodman department store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. She claims he forced her against a wall, removed her tights, and assaulted her.
This lawsuit coincides with an ongoing defamation case Ms Carroll filed against Mr Trump, accusing him of lying and making disparaging comments about her. The new legal action also addresses recent social media posts where Mr Trump labelled her allegations a “con job.”
Mr Trump has consistently denied these allegations and resisted efforts to advance Ms Carroll’s claims in court. His legal team has fought to delay proceedings, with his attorney Alina Habba describing the latest lawsuit as “inappropriate” and pledging to contest it.
The Adult Survivors Act, effective as of today, provides a one-year window for adult survivors to bring lawsuits against their alleged abusers or institutions that failed to protect them. Ms Carroll’s legal team had announced their intention to file under this law last week.
A judge presiding over the case recently urged Mr Trump’s legal representatives to prepare, noting, “Your client has been aware of this impending lawsuit for months. It is in his best interest to finalise representation.”
The defamation suit against Mr Trump, filed three years ago, remains active. Initially, Mr Trump argued that the statements in question were made while he was president, claiming immunity from legal action. Despite his efforts to delay proceedings, Ms Carroll’s team deposed him in October of this year.
This new legal filing represents a significant development in the long-running legal battle between Ms Carroll and Mr Trump, bringing renewed attention to the allegations and the broader implications of New York’s Adult Survivors Act.
