To the Editor:

In a motion for a new trial in the successful E. Jean Carroll civil defamation suit, Trump’s lawyer argued that, “the Jury’s $2 million [sexual assault] award was clearly motivated by sympathy rather than by evidence of harm, and the Court should grant a new trial as to compensatory damages for the battery claim, or grant a remittitur of such award to an amount no more than $400,000.” Mulligan!

Trump’s attorney conceded that Trump may have groped Carroll. “The purported sexual abuse found by the Jury could have only included alleged groping of Plaintiff’s intimate parts through clothing, which is clearly not rape.”
Oddly, NY law requires penile penetration to constitute rape; digital or object penetration is sexual assault. The jury’s verdict finding Trump civilly liable for a lesser criminal offense of sexual battery is not the “exoneration” of which Trump so proudly boasts. Trump believes his self-interest is the best arbiter of what the compensation for the abuse of Ms. Carroll should be, not the victim, not the jury.

Trump’s argument is that he should not have to pay premium prices when he didn’t even get to use his male member in the sexual assault. He had repeatedly said that he didn’t know her, never met her, said she “isn’t my type,” though he mistakenly identified a picture of Ms. Carroll as his ex-wife, Marla Maples. Now, “he may have groped Carroll…” He conjures whatever truth will serve his cause. How can anyone respect someone like that?

Pathetically, Trump contended that Carroll’s lawsuit was, “a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.” That’s a lot of hoaxing unless you are paranoid, a professional victim, or a malignant narcissist, though they are not mutually exclusive. When the jury had to decide who the liar was, it chose Trump.
Trump’s whole focus is Trump. Everything and everyone else are collateral. Truth is transactional, and Trump has no respect for the courts, constitution, or the non-compliant female population of the country. This is the guy that MAGA respects, will “ride or die” for, and wants re-presidented.

PS: Martin, name one thing I said in last week’s LTTE about Trump that isn’t true. Rittenhouse was acquitted of legal responsibility for the two killings, not the fact that he was the killer. Too bad you weren’t acquainted with more Black kids in your youth.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.