NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers representing writer E. Jean Carroll have urged a judge to reject former President Donald Trump’s attempt to avoid paying the required security to secure an $83.3 million defamation award. They argue that Trump’s promise to pay the judgment, which they believe will be overturned on appeal, is unreliable and holds no legal weight.
In a submission to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, Carroll’s lawyers stated that Trump’s argument for relief essentially boils down to a plea of “trust me.” They claim that Trump’s promises lack substance and accountability.
The defamation award was granted following a trial presided over by Kaplan, which concluded recently. However, in a separate case, a Manhattan state judge imposed a $454 million civil fraud penalty on Trump and his company after determining that they had engaged in a years-long scheme to inflate Trump’s wealth. An appellate judge has also declined to halt the collection of the award.
Last week, Trump’s lawyers requested that Kaplan suspend the defamation judgment, arguing that there is a strong possibility it will be reduced or eliminated on appeal. They claim that the combined punitive award of $65 million and compensatory damages of $18.3 million is unjustifiably excessive.
In response, Judge Kaplan expressed his reluctance to issue a stay of the judgment without giving Carroll’s attorneys the opportunity to respond. He highlighted the fact that Trump was seeking to avoid posting any security with his request.
Carroll’s attorneys openly mocked Trump’s attempt to evade posting security, arguing that it is prohibited by the law and lacks solid legal foundation. They further brought attention to the recent criminal cases Trump is facing and the $454 million fraud judgment against him, emphasizing concerns about his financial stability and the potential difficulties of collecting the judgment in Carroll’s case.
The defamation trial arose from Carroll’s claim that Trump sexually assaulted her at a store in 1996 and defamed her with his comments in 2022. The jury, instructed to consider only damages, relied on the findings of another jury that had previously awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. Carroll’s lawyers argued for a substantial award, citing evidence of ongoing defamation from Trump and the negative impact it has had on her reputation and income.
Overall, Carroll’s lawyers are adamant that the relief sought by Trump is baseless and the arguments put forth by his legal team lack sufficient authority. They believe that Trump’s promises cannot be trusted, particularly in light of recent developments surrounding his financial standing and the sizable fraud judgment against him.