Key takeaways:
- Writer E. Jean Carroll is suing former President Donald Trump for battery and defamation.
- The first witness to testify was Cheryl Beall, a former Bergdorf Goodman human resources manager.
- The trial is being closely watched as it is the first time a sitting president has been sued for defamation.
Writer E. Jean Carroll has testified in her case against former President Donald Trump for defamation and battery, as the civil trial enters its second day in Manhattan. Carroll is suing Trump for battery over an alleged rape that she says happened in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, as well as defamation for his claims that she made up her story to promote sales of her book and raise her public profile.
The first witness to testify was Cheryl Beall, a former Bergdorf Goodman human resources manager, who described a 6th-floor lingerie section that was generally quiet and sparsely populated, particularly on Thursday evenings.
On Wednesday, Carroll took the witness stand and told jurors: “I’m here because Trump raped me.” She explained that when she stepped forward to say what happened in 2019, Trump “lied and shattered my reputation and I’m trying to get my life back.”
The trial is expected to last several days, with both sides presenting evidence and witnesses. Carroll is seeking unspecified damages, as well as a retraction of Trump’s statements. Trump has denied the allegations and his lawyers have argued that his comments were protected by the First Amendment.
The trial is being closely watched as it is the first time a sitting president has been sued for defamation. The outcome of the case could have implications for how public figures are held accountable for their statements.
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