VERDICT returned in E. Jean Carroll defamation case v. Donald Trump

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Is there any reason why Trump did not defend himself, with so much on the line?  The jury was allowed to draw a negative inference in light of his absence.  I bet his attorneys concluded Trump would make it worse for himself … just a nightmare client.   At this point, he’s the courtroom version of the Washington Generals.

Trump absolutely makes it worse for himself. Remember when he was President?

[Kamaji]

Is there any reason why Trump did not defend himself, with so much on the line?  The jury was allowed to draw a negative inference in light of his absence.  I bet his attorneys concluded Trump would make it worse for himself … just a nightmare client.   At this point, he’s the courtroom version of the Washington Generals.

Most likely because, if he had gotten on the stand to testify, the plaintiff's attorneys would have been given the opportunity to cross-examine him and, in particular, to ask him all sorts of impertinent, but colorable, questions to impeach his credibility.  Recall how he went off on the journalist who was asking him questions he didn't like; now imagine that but with questions that are orders of magnitude more offensive, and consider how Trump would have reacted.  He would have totally lost it and gotten extremely angry on the stand, and would have done serious damage to his case.

His failure to testify was almost certainly used against him - it was a civil case, so a jury is allowed to draw negative inferences from the defendant's failure to testify on his own behalf - but I think it was a Catch-22, because the consequences of having him testify would probably have been worse.

[Bigun]

Most likely because, if he had gotten on the stand to testify, the plaintiff's attorneys would have been given the opportunity to cross-examine him and, in particular, to ask him all sorts of impertinent, but colorable, questions to impeach his credibility.  Recall how he went off on the journalist who was asking him questions he didn't like; now imagine that but with questions that are orders of magnitude more offensive, and consider how Trump would have reacted.  He would have totally lost it and gotten extremely angry on the stand, and would have done serious damage to his case.

His failure to testify was almost certainly used against him - it was a civil case, so a jury is allowed to draw negative inferences from the defendant's failure to testify on his own behalf - but I think it was a Catch-22, because the consequences of having him testify would probably have been worse.

Endless legal harassment is not fair to anyone. Trump included.

[berdie]

@berdie perhaps you will be kind enough to explain how it is that a lawsuit in ANY civil matter can be filed thirty years or more after an alleged wrong.  I'm serious as a heart attack.

I don't have a clue @Bigun  so I'll rely on @Kamaji 's response.

It still doesn't seem fair, does it?

[Kamaji]

Endless legal harassment is not fair to anyone. Trump included.

However one wants to characterize it, the fact is that Trump is particularly prone to being his own worst enemy, and getting up on the stand exposes one to a lot of crap as a matter of course because not only can you be questioned about the facts - what happened - you can also be questioned about things that tend to reflect on your credibility as a witness, and those can be much more far-reaching, and have nothing to do with the actual case itself.

In criminal cases I've heard of it called the "dump truck rule" because if the criminal defendant gets up on the stand, the prosecutor has license to come in with just about every bad thing he can dig up on the defendant to impeach the defendant's credibility - he can dump the truckload on him.

[DefiantMassRINO]

The lawyers will milk all the billable hours they can get from the appeals and the appeals' appeals.

Meanwhile, there's another crack in Tangerine Mussolini's teflon shield of legal invincibility.

Death by a thousand legal cuts.

 

Will Trump be releasing 5 million dollars of new NFT's?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Endless legal harassment is not fair to anyone. Trump included.

Agreed, but Trump's mouth makes him a lot of enemies. And if they're motivated enough, this is one way they'll harm you.

But my advice is to speak softly and carry a big stick in this regard.

[roamer_1]

Agreed, but Trump's mouth makes him a lot of enemies.

He has the right to remain silent... But he doesn't have the ability.

[Bigun]

He has the right to remain silent... But he doesn't have the ability.

That applies to a lot of people including me and YOU!

[mountaineer]

He has the right to remain silent... But he doesn't have the ability.

They caught the Tater.

[mystery-ak]

Former Trump press secretary says harassment was ‘really bad’
Rachel Scully
~3 minutes

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that she witnessed first-hand former President Trump’s alleged sexual harassment, describing it as “really bad, to the point that I was extremely uncomfortable.”

During an appearance on CNN earlier this week, Grisham detailed the harassment she observed while working under the then-president. She added that she wanted to protect a specific staffer, who she said Trump would frequently take on trips with him.

Grisham also detailed an incident in which Trump called a staffer to come back to “look at her ass.”

“He one time had one of my other deputies bring her back so that they could look at her ass, is what he said to him,” Grisham said. “I sat down and talked to her at one point, asked her if she was uncomfortable.”

“I tried everything I could to ensure she was never alone with him,” she added.

While she noted that Trump would frequently comment on people’s looks and speculate about cosmetic surgery, Grisham said the harassment against the specific staffer was particularly alarming.

more
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3997603-former-trump-press-secretary-says-harassment-was-really-bad/

[bigheadfred]

Here they come.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Former Trump press secretary says harassment was ‘really bad’
Rachel Scully
~3 minutes

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that she witnessed first-hand former President Trump’s alleged sexual harassment, describing it as “really bad, to the point that I was extremely uncomfortable.”

During an appearance on CNN earlier this week, Grisham detailed the harassment she observed while working under the then-president. She added that she wanted to protect a specific staffer, who she said Trump would frequently take on trips with him.

Grisham also detailed an incident in which Trump called a staffer to come back to “look at her ass.”

“He one time had one of my other deputies bring her back so that they could look at her ass, is what he said to him,” Grisham said. “I sat down and talked to her at one point, asked her if she was uncomfortable.”

“I tried everything I could to ensure she was never alone with him,” she added.

While she noted that Trump would frequently comment on people’s looks and speculate about cosmetic surgery, Grisham said the harassment against the specific staffer was particularly alarming.

more
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3997603-former-trump-press-secretary-says-harassment-was-really-bad/

Hmph... yeah now this kind of stuff. Nobody wants their daughter treated like that.

[roamer_1]

That applies to a lot of people including me and YOU!

That's right @Bigun ... But some more than others... 

[roamer_1]

They caught the Tater.

 

[Cyber Liberty]

Cyber's one sentence summary:  "Donald Trump fined $5 Million for not raping woman."

[libertybele]

Hmph... yeah now this kind of stuff. Nobody wants their daughter treated like that.

This is pretty damaging considering it happened while Trump was president -- proof though is needed or others coming forward.

[Kamaji]

This is pretty damaging considering it happened while Trump was president -- proof though is needed or others coming forward.

Agreed.

[roamer_1]

This is pretty damaging considering it happened while Trump was president -- proof though is needed or others coming forward.

Well, alright... but a grain of salt...

I have been accused of sexual harassment for nothing more than calling a gal 'darlin', which if you are familiar with country folks, is just a natural part of talking to a woman. There ain't a bit of offense in it, anymore than opening the door for a woman. Such things are complimentary and a deference to an unearned respect.

Like with Roy Moore... I will be hard to convince without serious evidence.
Again, this #metoo crap has got to stop... Even if I don't like the guy.

[Kamaji]

Well, alright... but a grain of salt...

I have been accused of sexual harassment for nothing more than calling a gal 'darlin', which if you are familiar with country folks, is just a natural part of talking to a woman. There ain't a bit of offense in it, anymore than opening the door for a woman. Such things are complimentary and a deference to an unearned respect.

Like with Roy Moore... I will be hard to convince without serious evidence.
Again, this #metoo crap has got to stop... Even if I don't like the guy.

Read the story above.  If true - I stress that - it's orders of magnitude worse than just calling someone "Darlin'"

[libertybele]

Well, alright... but a grain of salt...

I have been accused of sexual harassment for nothing more than calling a gal 'darlin', which if you are familiar with country folks, is just a natural part of talking to a woman. There ain't a bit of offense in it, anymore than opening the door for a woman. Such things are complimentary and a deference to an unearned respect.

Like with Roy Moore... I will be hard to convince without serious evidence.
Again, this #metoo crap has got to stop... Even if I don't like the guy.

Yes, like I said -- there needs to be some kind of proof and that means that others need to come forward and testify what they saw or heard personally -- not just hearsay.  Then it still boils down to his word against theirs unless there are recordings.

[Bigun]

Everybody who thinks a legit complaint is going to be left hanging for THIRTY FRIGGIN YEARS raise your hand.

Yeah! That's what I thought.

[LMAO]

Former Trump press secretary says harassment was ‘really bad’
Rachel Scully
~3 minutes

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that she witnessed first-hand former President Trump’s alleged sexual harassment, describing it as “really bad, to the point that I was extremely uncomfortable.”

During an appearance on CNN earlier this week, Grisham detailed the harassment she observed while working under the then-president. She added that she wanted to protect a specific staffer, who she said Trump would frequently take on trips with him.

Grisham also detailed an incident in which Trump called a staffer to come back to “look at her ass.”

“He one time had one of my other deputies bring her back so that they could look at her ass, is what he said to him,” Grisham said. “I sat down and talked to her at one point, asked her if she was uncomfortable.”

“I tried everything I could to ensure she was never alone with him,” she added.

While she noted that Trump would frequently comment on people’s looks and speculate about cosmetic surgery, Grisham said the harassment against the specific staffer was particularly alarming.

more
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3997603-former-trump-press-secretary-says-harassment-was-really-bad/

But why come out with this now? Why not at the time or even immediately after he was voted out of office?

[LMAO]

So just what Trump said in the "Grabbing the P" testimony was a lie or a distortion?  I didn't hear a denial.... 

I'm all ears, and dying to hear your interpretation.

I’m also curious about what the lie was. Not only did he boast about being able to grab women by the genitals without their consent, he also talked about going up to women and  kissing them and carrying Tic Tacs for that purpose

Some people will defend the indefensible

[roamer_1]

Read the story above. If true - I stress that - it's orders of magnitude worse than just calling someone "Darlin'"

Yeah, yeah... Roy Moore all over again. Again. These ***holes have called wolf so many times I don't even sit up in my chair anymore...

I don't like Tumpy... And I wouldn't put it past him... But you can't put such a slander on anybody without some sort of actionable proof.This he said/she said #metoo crap makes for lousy law.

[roamer_1]

Yes, like I said -- there needs to be some kind of proof and that means that others need to come forward and testify what they saw or heard personally -- not just hearsay.  Then it still boils down to his word against theirs unless there are recordings.

That's right. Actionable proof. Recordings... bastard kids... Shoot, even a hotel room. SOMETHING.

And even at that, how does one defend against a charge made YEARS past? That's the thing that is nonsense. Do you know for a sustainable fact where you were 30 years ago? What EXACTLY you did on any given day? What witnesses could you call forward? What receipts to show your whereabouts?

Everything is so far down the memory hole that without the Blue Dress, NONE of it could be proven. And there ain't a Blue Dress, or they'd have used it long before now.

It's gonna be bullshit.

[Kamaji]

Yeah, yeah... Roy Moore all over again. Again. These ***holes have called wolf so many times I don't even sit up in my chair anymore...

I don't like Tumpy... And I wouldn't put it past him... But you can't put such a slander on anybody without some sort of actionable proof.This he said/she said #metoo crap makes for lousy law.

That's why I emphasized "if true".  At this point, Trump should be suing the speaker for defamation/libel, to force her to divulge the name of this supposed staffer.

If he doesn't however, then that may be a tacit omission that there is more than just smoke and mirrors there.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

This is pretty damaging considering it happened while Trump was president -- proof though is needed or others coming forward.

This isn't the same lady who claimed that Trump wanted to take his limo to the January 6th with the Secret Service or whatever is it? Because that will change my opinion on this.

Edit: No, that was Cassidy Hutchinson.

[roamer_1]

That's why I emphasized "if true".  At this point, Trump should be suing the speaker for defamation/libel, to force her to divulge the name of this supposed staffer.

If he doesn't however, then that may be a tacit omission that there is more than just smoke and mirrors there.

I realize your emphasis, and that is why I countered: I don't believe a damn word of it without real proof.

And I don't think proof is there... If they had a pot to piss in they'd have thrown it at him long before now.

[libertybele]

I realize your emphasis, and that is why I countered: I don't believe a damn word of it without real proof.

And I don't think proof is there... If they had a pot to piss in they'd have thrown it at him long before now.

Certainly you would think that they would have gone after Trump while he was campaigning the first time around.

Why now??? Other than the DEMS are pulling out all the stops to try and prevent him from running again.

[Kamaji]

Certainly you would think that they would have gone after Trump while he was campaigning the first time around.

Why now??? Other than the DEMS are pulling out all the stops to try and prevent him from running again.

They’re not trying to stop him from running.  They want him to run; they want him to suck all the oxygen out of the GOP nomination process again and make lots of new enemies.  They also want him damaged in the eyes of the uncommitted voters, so that he is almost certain to lose. 

Basically, they are using him against himself to turn him into an albatross around the GOP’s neck.

[roamer_1]

Certainly you would think that they would have gone after Trump while he was campaigning the first time around.

Why now??? Other than the DEMS are pulling out all the stops to try and prevent him from running again.

That's exactly right... And their problem is that they have made him bulletproof.The only thing they have left is to pull the old Tom Delay (or Roy Moore) trick and keep him tied up in court till he can't move forward campaigning.

Mark my words: He will beat the charges, just like Delay did (and Moore did). The trick would be to get elected president in the mean time. And that's a tough row to hoe.

[roamer_1]

They’re not trying to stop him from running.  They want him to run; they want him to suck all the oxygen out of the GOP nomination process again and make lots of new enemies.  They also want him damaged in the eyes of the uncommitted voters, so that he is almost certain to lose. 

Basically, they are using him against himself to turn him into an albatross around the GOP’s neck.

That could be right... But a heady gamble with a DeSantis waiting in the wings...

[BellyAche]

Basically, they are using him against himself to turn him into an albatross around the GOP’s neck.

Indeed, they're waiting for Trump to hang himself. He has a remarkable ability to "shoot himself in the foot"! (I feel very sorry for his campaign people.) His thoughtless comments can easily catch up with him. But I know that true followers like Trump for the bellicosity. As always, time will tell if he has traction with enough voters.