Former President Donald Trump once again denied the sexual assault allegations made by E. Jean Carroll, despite a court ruling that found him liable for defamation.
Speaking at Trump Tower after an appeal hearing, Trump made several derogatory remarks about Carroll and other accusers, while denying all allegations of sexual misconduct from approximately two dozen women.
Carroll's battery allegation was the first to be tried before a jury, which resulted in a $5 million judgment against Trump for sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s and later defaming her when she went public with her claims in 2019.
Trump suggested that a photo of him and Carroll could have been AI-generated, stating, "I never met her. I have never touched her. I would have no interest in meeting her in any shape or form." He further dismissed Carroll's testimony as "a made-up fabricated story by somebody just looking to promote a book."
Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, noted that Trump repeated some of the same statements that the jury had already found to be defamatory. "I've said before and I'll say it again: all options are on the table," Kaplan told ABC News.
Trump also addressed accusations from two other women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, making similarly dismissive comments. Referring to Leeds, who claimed Trump groped her on an airplane in the 1970s, Trump said, "She wouldn't have been the chosen one." Expressing frustration with his legal team, Trump criticized their handling of the hearing. "I'm disappointed in my legal talent, I'll be honest with you," he said, listing arguments he wished they had made.
He linked his legal troubles to broader political adversaries, including the Department of Justice, Vice President Kamala Harris, and President Joe Biden, describing it as "a long and complicated web and story" and claiming, "We have a whole rigged election system."
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