NEW YORK CITY, USA – Noted author and former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, 79, boldly testified in the civil trial against former President Donald Trump on Thursday, April 27, 2023 asserting that she “couldn’t be more proud” to be present despite the onslaught of online harassment she’s been subjected to since coming forward with her allegations.
Accusing Trump of rape in the 1990s, Carroll has been on the receiving end of a ruthless social media campaign, with users labelling her a “liar, slut, ugly, old.”
Nevertheless, she appeared undeterred in court, expressing her determination to stand for her truth. “I couldn’t be more proud to be here,” she told the jury.
Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City.
In response to her allegations, she claims Trump defamed her when he denied the incident in an interview with The Hill in 2019. He said, “I’ll say it with great respect: Number one, she’s not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?”
The former president, now 76, is not expected to appear at the current trial. Jury selection began on Tuesday in what is expected to be a high-profile civil suit.
“I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen,” Carroll told the jury in a powerful testimony. “He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back.”
The case continues to unfold, with Carroll’s bold stance offering a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle many women face when seeking justice for sexual assault.
Her courage in the face of adversity is a testament to the power of resilience and the ongoing fight for truth in a world often fraught with victim-blaming and disbelief.
