Dem
51
GOP
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Writer E. Jean Carroll has accused Donald Trump of raping her in a New York department store dressing room in the 1990s and then defaming her by calling her a liar went she went public about it. Although the statute of limitations long ago expired, a new New York State law gives victims of sexual assault a 1-year-window to bring a lawsuit, even for incidents that took place decades ago. Carroll has availed herself of the new law and sued Trump under it. Trump asked the judge to throw her suit out because Carroll can't prove economic loss due to the rape.
On Friday, the judge on the case ruled that the law didn't not require economic harm for a lawsuit to be valid and tossed out Trump's attempt to end it. Unless Trump appeals and wins, the lawsuit will go forward.
The new lawsuit is one of two Carroll has filed against Trump. The trial in the first lawsuit is scheduled to start on April 10. Having to defend himself in a lawsuit centered on whether he raped Carroll is probably not something Trump's campaign manager was hoping for. In effect, there will be two trials going on in parallel. In the courtroom, Trump will be trying to escape potentially large monetary damages. But in the court of public opinion, if Carroll is convincing as a witness and Trump slips up on the witness stand, some voters, especially women, may decide that Trump is guilty, no matter what the court decides. The best strategy in the courtroom might not be the best campaign strategy. For example, ordering his lawyers to try to crush Carroll may not play well with women who have been sexually assaulted or have friends or relatives who were. But having them go easy on her may lose the case. (V)