And Jean Carroll said she was “overwhelmed with joy” for women across America after former President Donald Trump was held accountable for sexually abusing and defaming her.
In an interview with NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie on the Today show, the 79-year-old said the court victory wasn’t about the millions she was awarded in damages, but rather ensured a win for all the women.
“I am overwhelmed with joy, happiness and pleasure for the women of this country,” she said.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about getting my name back,” Carroll added.
The former US president also libeled Ms. Carroll, but the civil trial rejected her claim that she was raped during the meeting.
trump, who is campaigning for the 2024 presidency, must pay the former Elle magazine advice columnist $5m (£4m) in damages.
He consistently denied Carroll’s claims.
“I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace – a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!” she wrote on her social media site, Truth Social, after the verdicts were handed down.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign said in a statement Tuesday: “This case will be appealedand in the end we will win.”
On what she would tell Mr. Trump given the opportunity, Ms. Carroll said she went to her lawyer, Joe Tacopina, at the conclusion of the case and let him know.
“Tacopina held out her hand and I said, ‘He did it and you know it.’ So I had my chance,” she recalled.
And Jean Carroll leaves federal court in Manhattan after the verdict
Ms Carroll was alongside her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who said she was confident her client will collect damages from Trump and that her team has no reason to appeal.
“I have rarely felt more confident about an appeal like this one,” she said.
Ms. Carroll said she ran into Trump in a department store in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996 and that he ended up raping her in a locker room.
She also said he libeled her by claiming she made the story up.
The nine-person jury deliberated for just under three hours before convicting him on Tuesday.
Ms Kaplan said there was “no doubt” that the jury was sending a clear message by awarding multi-million dollar damages and reaching a verdict within hours.
Additionally, Carroll said Trump’s refusal to testify helped. “He didn’t even bother to introduce himself,” she added.
Donald Trump has since responded to the verdict
Trump’s deposition, in which he was asked about the “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced before the 2016 presidential election, also helped secure his victory, Kaplan said.
Asked in deposition about his remarks on the tape, Trump said, “Well, historically, that’s true with stars.”
“True with the stars who can grab women by their private parts?” asked Mrs. Kaplan.
“Well, here’s what – if you look at the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately,” the former president replied.
Ms. Kaplan also said in her interview today that this was an important moment. “Lucky? Who uses the word fortunately to talk about sexual assault?” she asked.
To know more:
The discovery of sexual abuse will resonate throughout the presidential campaign
What other investigations is Trump facing?
Ms Carroll recalled the toll the case took on her for more than 30 years.
“Before yesterday, there was the concept of the perfect victim, always yelling, always reporting to the police, always taking note of when it happened, and their life folds up and they should never be happy,” she said.
“Yesterday we demolished that concept, it’s gone. It’s not so much about me, it’s about every woman”.
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Trump: ‘The most dangerous man I’ve ever met’
Reflecting on Trump’s repeated claim that he has no idea who he is, Carroll noted that among the many legal problems the former president may face: “What happened yesterday is one… -old pundit beat Donald Trump in court.”
Trump vowed to appeal on his Truth Social site, calling the result “a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time.”
He said the judge was biased and made sure “the outcome was as negative as possible, speaking and scrutinizing a jury from an anti-Trump area…”
Trump – who did not attend the trial and waived his right to testify or present a defense – insisted he never sexually assaulted Ms. Carroll or even knew her.
The 76-year-old, who hopes to win back the White House in 2024, won’t have to pay compensation until the case is on appeal.
