Justice Department to take over Trump's legal defense in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit, writer says Trump raped her in 1990s
"In a court filing Tuesday, the Justice Department said Trump was acting 'within the scope' of his job as president when he said Carroll lied about the incident"
The U.S. Justice Department, controlled by Donald Trump and headed by the lyin'-ass Worst Attorney General Ever, Bill Barr, is trying to take over as President Donald Trump's personal legal defense in a defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll, the writer who says Trump raped her two decades ago.
"TRUMP HURLS BILL BARR AT ME," Ms. Carroll wrote on Twitter tonight in response to the news. "Just when @realDonaldTrump is required to produce documents and DNA in discovery, he sics the DOJ on us. THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED."
Thanking her lawyers, Carroll then added, "IT JUST PROVES THAT TRUMP IS GUILTY!"
TRUMP HURLS BILL BARR AT ME.
- E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) September 8, 2020
Just when @realDonaldTrump is required to produce documents and DNA in discovery, he sics the DOJ on us.
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED!!
My attorney, @kaplanrobbie, and I are happy to TAKE THEM ALL ON! @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/rAmKnqpo5s
"The move could further delay a suit in which Carroll is demanding potentially damaging evidence from Trump during the final weeks before the presidential election, including a deposition and a DNA sample to compare to a dress she claims she was wearing at the time of the alleged attack," write Bloomberg News reporters Bob Van Voris and Erik Larson, adding that taxpayers would probably be footing the bill for any damages awarded.
Excerpt from their report for Bloomberg News:
In a court filing Tuesday, the Justice Department said Trump was acting "within the scope" of his job as president when he said Carroll lied about the incident, prompting her lawsuit. The U.S. also moved the case to Manhattan federal court from a New York state court, where a judge last month denied his request to stall the suit.
"Today's actions demonstrate that Trump will do everything possible, including using the full powers of the federal government, to block discovery from going forward in my case before the upcoming election to try to prevent a jury from ever deciding which one of us is lying," Carroll said in a statement Tuesday.
It's not clear why the Justice Department is only now seeking to take over Trump's defense of the suit, which was filed in November 2019. Trump, who has denied he raped Carroll, has been represented in the case by his longtime outside lawyer Marc Kasowitz. The lawyer didn't immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment. The Justice Department also didn't immediately return an email.
Read more at Bloomberg: U.S. Seeks to Defend Trump in Rape Accuser's Defamation Suit
"Should the Justice Department be allowed to take over, it could mean the end of Carroll's lawsuit as the federal government can't be sued for defamation," notes CNN legal analyst and University of Texas law school professor Steve Vladeck.
IT JUST PROVES THAT TRUMP IS GUILTY!
- E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) September 9, 2020
(And also, that I have the best attorney in America, THE BEAST, Robbie Kaplan!) @kaplanrobbie https://t.co/prpts2Yjkn
It's possible this is the most ridiculous legal claim in the history of the Justice Department. https://t.co/6rB61CjKYz
- James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) September 9, 2020
Breaking News: The Justice Department wants to take over President Trump's defense in a defamation suit from E. Jean Carroll, who said he raped her in the 1990s. https://t.co/oscfoz9e1i
- The New York Times (@nytimes) September 8, 2020
And here's the DOJ memo in support of motion to substitute the U.S. as a defendant in Carroll v. Trump: https://t.co/vYeD2ddHug https://t.co/cfpXu9dchq
- Joe Palazzolo (@joe_palazzolo) September 9, 2020
Remarkable. Short on campaign cash to fight rape allegations Trump is having the DOJ take over his defense in the Jean Carroll defamation case with the argument that he was acting in the scope of his presidential duties when he denied raping Carroll. https://t.co/ADA8bvZMLM
- Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 9, 2020
"Should the Justice Department be allowed to take over, it could mean the end of Carroll's lawsuit as the federal government can't be sued for defamation, noted CNN legal analyst and University of Texas law school professor Steve Vladeck." https://t.co/onshFAscty
- Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 9, 2020
E. Jean Carroll's attorney @KaplanHecker called it "shocking" President Trump would "wield the power of the US government to evade responsibility for his private misconduct" after @TheJusticeDept sought to takeover defense in defamation case
- Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) September 9, 2020