Before Donald Trump left the courtroom, E. Jean Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan began her closing argument by saying she’s going to instruct the jury on the key points of the evidence and what they must do to compensate Carroll for damages.
“However unusual a case against a former president may seem,” Carroll’s lawyer told the jury, they must “stick to the facts, to the evidence and to the law.” Kaplan reminded the jury they are to accept the verdict found by an earlier jury last year that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll and then defamed her in statements when she came forward with her allegations.
“We know today Ms. Carroll did not make it up,” Kaplan said.
“The sexual assault happened — and Donald Trump’s denials and viscous accusations against her were all complete lies,” she added.
She also said this jury’s verdict is also meant to punish him.
“This case is also about punishing Donald Trump for what he has done and what he continues to do. Punishing him for the malicious nature of his attacks,” Kaplan said. “And his continuing attacks right up to and during this very trial.”Kaplan said that Trump tries to “normalize conduct that could hardly be more abnormal.”
“Typically, when someone is found liable for defamation, they stop making those statements, even if they don’t like the jury’s verdict,” Carroll’s lawyer said. “Even if you don’t like the jury’s decision, you follow it. Those are the rules.”
“This trial is also about something much more profound,” Kaplan continued. “Whether the rules that apply to everyone else — to you, to me, to Ms. Carroll — whether they also apply to Donald Trump.”
