Former President Donald Trump addressed the media on Friday following a court appearance, reigniting discussions around sexual misconduct allegations from the past and targeting the women who have come forward. This event, although promoted as a news conference, did not include any questions from reporters.
In the court proceedings, Trump’s legal team argued for the overturning of a $5 million verdict that deemed him liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996. As he campaigns for the presidency, Trump is set to visit North Carolina, where he will speak at a gathering of the Fraternal Order of Police, aiming to position himself as tougher on crime than Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead-up to the election.
Harris remained largely out of the spotlight, focusing on preparations for the upcoming debate next week while her campaign revealed it raised $361 million from nearly 3 million donors in her inaugural month as a candidate.
Early voting for the November election is expected to commence in at least four states by the end of this month.
In a striking moment during his press conference, Trump claimed that a woman who alleged he molested her during a flight in the late 1970s “would not have been the chosen one,” asserting that her account was fabricated.
This statement referred to Jessica Leeds, who testified that Trump assaulted her while they traveled together in first class. Trump dismissed her allegations, questioning the likelihood of such an incident occurring given his fame at the time.
Trump further alleged that the lawsuit against him was politically motivated, suggesting interference from the Department of Justice and describing it as a “witch hunt.” He stated, “I’m running for president, and I have all these cases all of a sudden come. And they’re fake cases.”
In a separate New York state case, he was convicted on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments, and it was expected that the judge would decide whether to postpone his sentencing on Friday.
Trump’s continual denial of the allegations against Carroll raises the possibility of further defamation lawsuits against him; previous juries have awarded Carroll substantial damages for his statements regarding her claims of sexual assault in a department store dressing room in 1996.
Trump continued to assert that Carroll’s story was “made-up and fabricated,” even after juries had ruled otherwise. Carroll’s attorney indicated she would be monitoring Trump’s comments closely and considering legal action if he persisted in making false statements.
During his press conference, Trump also reaffirmed his stance on the Carroll verdict, claiming he never met her and suggesting her allegations were inspired by a fictional storyline.
Additionally, a North Carolina appeals court ordered that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name be removed from state ballots for the upcoming presidential election, impacting the absentee ballot distribution for the November 5 elections.
The ruling followed Kennedy’s request to withdraw after endorsing Trump and suspending his campaign, amidst concerns over the timing of ballot printing.
In the courtroom, Trump demonstrated little reaction as Carroll’s attorney presented allegations against him, remaining mostly quiet and composed until the hearing concluded.
As the presidential campaign heats up with debates on the horizon, both Trump and Harris are looking to solidify their positions with voters. Major fundraising efforts and campaign strategies are underway as each candidate attempts to gain the upper hand in these pivotal final weeks leading to the election.
