The DOJ will ‘defend’ Donald Trump in E. Jean Carroll’s rape/defamation case

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The Department of Justice is pathetic under William Barr and Donald Trump. Trump clearly believes that the DOJ is there to act as his personal mafia consigliere, and Barr seems to believe that’s his role as Attorney General too. I truly don’t have words for how disgusted I am at all of the sh-t the Barr DOJ has already done. And what they continue to do. Remember E. Jean Carroll? In 2019, she told her story to New York Magazine. She said that in late 1995/early 1996, Donald Trump raped her in the dressing room of Bergdorf’s. Dozens of women have come forward to speak about Trump assaulting them, raping them or abusing them in various ways. He’s a sexual predator. I believe E. Jean Carroll. Trump denied Carroll’s accusation at the time, last year. And now the Department of Justice is lining up to defend him.

The Justice Department moved on Tuesday to replace President Trump’s private legal team with government lawyers to defend him against a defamation lawsuit by the author E. Jean Carroll, who has accused him of raping her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. In a highly unusual legal move, lawyers for the Justice Department said in court papers that Mr. Trump was acting in his official capacity as president when he denied ever knowing Ms. Carroll and thus could be defended by government lawyers — in effect underwritten by taxpayer money.

Though the law gives employees of the federal government immunity from most defamation lawsuits, legal experts said it has rarely, if ever, been used before to protect a president, especially for actions taken before he entered office.

“The question is,” said Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor, “is it really within the scope of the law for government lawyers to defend someone accused of lying about a rape when he wasn’t even president yet?”

The motion also effectively protects Mr. Trump from any embarrassing disclosures in the middle of his campaign for re-election. A state judge issued a ruling last month that potentially opened the door to Mr. Trump being deposed in the case before the election in November, and Ms. Carroll’s lawyers have also requested that he provide a DNA sample to determine whether his genetic material is on a dress that Ms. Carroll said she was wearing at the time of the encounter.

Ms. Carroll’s lawyer said in a statement issued Tuesday evening that the Justice Department’s move to intervene in the case was a “shocking” attempt to bring the resources of the United States government to bear on a private legal matter. “Trump’s effort to wield the power of the U.S. government to evade responsibility for his private misconduct is without precedent,” the lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan, said, “and shows even more starkly how far he is willing to go to prevent the truth from coming out.”

[From The NY Times]

When Bill Clinton left the White House, he was millions of dollars in debt because of all of his legal fees. During the impeachment saga and Ken Starr’s endless witch hunt, then-President Clinton used private lawyers to defend himself. If there had even been a whiff of Clinton using the DOJ for his own personal use, they would have absolutely destroyed him. Now, some-odd 22 years later, and the literal Attorney General is running interference for a fascist Nazi president in a rape case that happened BEFORE Trump slithered into the White House. This is completely BEYOND. Barr needs to be disbarred right now. So does every DOJ lawyer working on this.

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47 Responses to “The DOJ will ‘defend’ Donald Trump in E. Jean Carroll’s rape/defamation case”

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  1. FYI says:

    This is what E. Jean Carroll had to say:
    “Trump underestimates me, and he also has underestimated the American people.”

    It goes without saying that taxpayers should not be paying for Trump’s inability to keep his goddamn lying mouth shut. (Carroll’s case, and the DOJ defense, is about his defamation of her, not the rape itself, which no doubt happened.) It’s preposterous and disgusting.

    However, I also want to point out that Elle magazine FIRED Carroll when she spoke up. When given the opportunity …
    to support women,
    to believe people who have been assaulted,
    to be on the right side of history,
    to take a f0cking stand, what did Elle do?

    They fired her, after something like 25 years of writing for the magazine. And what did Carroll do? She persisted in the case. This woman is a boss. It will be a woman who takes down this orange jackhole.

    • Tinnie says:

      Thanks for posting this. I had no idea ELLE fired her. I used to be such a fan of her column (when I was a bit younger but still enjoyed reading it). That’s just incredible. I also had not followed her case so thanks for the clarification.

    • Darla says:

      I forgot Elle fired her. I don’t buy the magazine so I can’t boycott it. But they’ve lived this down quite easily. Way too easily.

    • snappyfish says:

      Ok. So the DOJ is REQUESTING to be able to change the Defendant to the United States of America. This will NOT be allowed. All of this is a delaying tactic. He was ordered to deliver DNA on the 15th of this month and sit for a deposition on the 22nd. This will delay those proceedings until a Judge will decide if a civil case and a defamation case by Trump was committed while he was acting on behalf of the US. Clearly it was not. It will be denied and the election would have passed without his DNA being confirmed. Don’t buy into this BS. The only thing this proves to me (I already knew it) is that he KNOWS he did it and will be proven guilty.

      Also Impeach Barr as he is a criminal

      • Tiffany :) says:

        That is so comforting. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

      • liz says:

        @Snappyfish – You are absolutely right. The removal to Federal Court and the substitution of counsel is a stall tactic. The motions will not be briefed, argued and decided before the election.

        He knows he’s guilty, so he & Barr are delaying everything as long as they can.

        Which reminds me – I need to call Jerry Nadler’s office for the umpteenth time to tell him to Impeach Barr. (Yes, I live in his district, so they (sometimes) actually take my calls.)

  2. Jerusha says:

    Time to swab Barr’s cheeks, both the upper and lower, for traces of trump’s DNA.

  3. Lightpurple says:

    This is abuse of power and abuse of our tax money

    • shanaynay says:

      And yet people just sit by and continue to let it happen. His supporters see this happening and yet still praise this corrupt animal as their g-d!!! It’s sickeningly that this is what has happened to our country. It’s all good, because when it comes to judgement day him along with his supporters will be asked about their actions. Everything will come to light.

      • Lady D says:

        His judgement day does nothing to help those who suffered at his hands, nothing. Their judgement day is at best a bitter whoop-te-doo to those who have suffered and died or been destroyed financially by their actions.
        I am so so sick of watching despots, dictators, war criminals, and the most horrific depraved humans on the planet enjoying long, healthy, happy and wealthy lifestyles. Mugabe, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Duterte, Nazi war criminals, ISIS torturing with drowning and burning, people like Trump or Madoff, none of them ever pay for their crimes, ever, they look like life is just grand for them.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      It enrages me that my tax money would be spent defending this predatory con artist.

  4. Leslie says:

    I have no words. I am incensed.

    • Lady D says:

      This is really just too much. The entire DOJ against one woman, with millions of Trump supporters hoping she gets destroyed. There must be someone who can do something about this, anyone?

  5. Betsy says:

    I don’t have a legal degree or even a great layman’s understanding of the law, so I can’t be eloquent in my disgust for this, though my disgust is vast.

    I reserve my real ire for the rank and file GOP voter. I am BEYOND angry with those people who play at being good stable Americans but are fully embracing fascism because they like what the fascists promise. Its’ not really a surprise – the warning signs have been there for decades – but it’s appalling nonetheless.

  6. Darla says:

    E. Jean Carroll breaks my heart. She is absolutely telling the truth. Her story is devastating. I can tell she blamed herself for a long time. She was in her 50’s I believe, a very beautiful woman. She was never with a man again. think about that. Think about what this animal did to her and her life. Then think about the women who support him. I am so sick over it.

    • FYI says:

      She is STILL a beautiful woman. Gorgeous. Stunning. And not because of the way she looks, but because of her ovaries of steel, her courage, her DIGNITY.

    • Frida_K says:

      When I read her essay and it concluded with her statement that she had never been with a man since, I literally felt chills go up and down my sides. Like you, she breaks my heart. The damage he did to her…!

      I want her to have justice in this, and some measure of peace. She is so brave. He is so wretched and evil. I hope that her day will come that she gets her day in court and his crimes are laid bare and punished.

    • Trashaddict says:

      No surprise there. How many women has Trump completely turned against men? So many men have been complicit in his disgusting, vile misuse of power. So many men have excused his behavior, not stood up to this BS. If you are not with me, you are against me.

  7. shanaynay says:

    And yet his supporters will continue to support him. His supporters are as corrupt as DT is. I’ve never met such blind ridiculous brainwashed people before. I’m scared of anyone who supports DT, because you don’t have a mind of your own to think straight, and who knows what ya’ll are capable of. You’ve seen and heard of all the despicable things this animal has done and said, and continues to do. What will it take a ton of bricks to fall on your heads before you realize your supporting this con man???

  8. C-Shell says:

    I see at least two ulterior motives for this egregious move. First, bringing the full force of the federal government into a civil suit is intended to intimidate, overwhelm the plaintiff and her counsel, and slooooow the litigation down to get Trump through the election. Also, DOJ attorneys who are honoring their ethical responsibilities as members of the bar, might resign in protest. If Barr is hoping that Audrey Strauss and her team will carry the water on this in Trump’s defense or — better yet — resign or be fired for refusing, well, that’s a win-win for Trump and all the consequences he’s facing in the SDNY.

  9. FC says:

    Fingers crossed Mary Trump comes through with her DNA.

  10. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Let’s watch as Congress sits and smiles. Nothing to see here folks, move along. They’re raping the Constitution while crying Democrats are raping the Constitution. He and his people truly deserve lifetime sentences. And so do Republicans. I wish I had faith we could actually do something about it, but alas, I absolutely do not have faith in anyone anymore.

  11. Lauren says:

    Because of course they will.

  12. KellyRyan says:

    Connection between Drumpf and Deutche Bank, major loans, payment due next year. Connection with Barr, Drumpf, Deutche Bank. Neither wants to leave the White House and face SDNY, Southern District of New York, criminal charges. “Thick as thieves.” E Jean stands up and speaks out.

  13. The Other Sarah says:

    As an attorney, the DOJ’s actions are incredibly offensive and deeply insulting. Each and every attorney in the United States takes an oath, before a judge, to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land. Every attorney that has or is participating in this farce is an embarrassment to the legal profession and, in my humble opinion, should be disbarred.

    • LaraW” says:

      Agree. Insulting to career DOJ and USAGO. The new lawyers hired under his admin are a fucking joke; know a lot of people who left to join DC firms. Most of DC fucking hates him and regard his admin with disgust (there’s a reason why all his appearances in DC are limited and so carefully controlled)- but I still respect the career lawyers who keep fighting the good fight and continue to do their actual jobs (and making my life as difficult as possible). Barr is a piece of shit and given his egregious conduct, I will be extremely surprised if any reputable law firm will touch that with a fifteen thousand foot pole. If a firm is stupid enough to hire him, it’s certainly a great way to LOSE all the partners at the firm, who can easily go anywhere else and take all their clients with them.

  14. Juxtapoze says:

    Trump is the biggest POS ever. Vote vote vote this MF’er out. That’s all I’ve got. Disgusted with so many things he’s been allowed to do since taking office and exhausted trying to figure out why ANYONE still supports this POS.

  15. Veronica S. says:

    It’s not just about using taxpayer money – it’s the fact that moving this to a federal court will change the power dynamics at play and alter their ability to do a pardon. It removes the ability of the state to determine certain sentencing, as well.

    Barr is hands down one of the most dangerous people in the Trump administration. He’s their Cheney. Next to Miller, he’s probably the one I find most frightening. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do if this administration stay in another four years. I’m already preparing a pathway out of here, that’s for sure.

    • Lady D says:

      Can he be disbarred?

      • Jaded says:

        He could be but it would be a lengthy investigation and would require the full agreement of congress. He’s certainly received numerous complaints from the District of Columbia Bar about his unethical behaviour in representing the interests of the Trump administration instead of the United States. My guess is if Biden wins Barr will go back to private practice unimpeded.

  16. Emily says:

    A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for rape. Don’t like sponsoring rape? Vote Biden.

  17. lolalola3 says:

    This is bullshit. Trump is trying to bully and intimidate because he has NO defense. All his bragging about how rich he is?? Pay for your own attorney! I am so sick of this entire family of Grifters! Barr needs to go to jail and share a cell with some “nice people”….

  18. JRenee says:

    This is a horrible transgression and misuse of power. It will take years to resolve all of these transgressions..