Why state-level legal minutiae impacts what words are used to describe the former president's criminal conduct.

District Judge Lewis Kaplan has said it multiple times: Donald Trump raped E. Jean Carroll in 1996. Kaplan wrote it in May 2023, when he presided over one of the trials against Trump. And he reminded jurors of the rape this week, during the latest proceedings in the multi-layered, winding rape and defamation cases brought against Trump by Carroll.

  • RubberDuck@lemmy.world
    60·
    8 months ago

    I don’t think this comment is appropriate in this comment thread.

    The core here is a famous and powerfull rapist got away with it and made light of the crime and defamed the victim. Then was found liable in civil court for the defamation… went out of court… and F-ing defamed her again immediately.

    I hope they throw the book at him and fine him into the ground with punitive damages. He says he is a billionaire… so let’s test if a 500 million fine will get him to stop defaming the victim.

    I hope Ms Carrol becomes the owner of Mar-a-lago and turns it into a Summercamp for lgbti youth.

    • TWeaK@lemm.eeEnglish
      219·
      8 months ago

      I don’t think this comment is appropriate in this comment thread.

      I appreciate the context you gave after this statement, however I disagree with the conclusion you started with.

      The purpose of my comment was to highlight that New York isn’t all that unique in its definition of rape - there are others that are similar. However, in New York, state law is superseded by Federal law. The judge here has treaded on eggshells to make a declaration that fits under federal law, but doesn’t quite line up under state law. Such a declaration wouldn’t even be possible under UK law.

      I, too, hope that Trump actually faces the consequences of his corruption. I hold my breath in anticipation, though, rather than celebrate him merely being told off.