E. Jean Carroll sues Trump for defamation over rape denial

Columnist E. Jean Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in New York state court after he publicly denied her June 2019 rape allegation and attacked her credibility. The suit alleged Trump "lashed out with a series of false and defamatory statements," including claiming he never met Carroll and that she fabricated the story to sell books. Carroll's complaint stated Trump's denials were false and damaged her reputation as a journalist. The lawsuit represented one of the first legal consequences for Trump's pattern of attacking sexual assault accusers. Trump would refuse to provide a DNA sample for years despite Carroll's repeated requests, delaying the case. This first defamation suit would eventually be tied up in appeals regarding Trump's official capacity, leading Carroll to file a second lawsuit under New York's Adult Survivor Act.